Former Titans quarterback McNair fatally shot in Nashville
July 4, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was shot multiple times, including a shot to the head, and a pistol was discovered near the body of the 20-year-old woman found dead with him Saturday in a downtown condominium.
Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron identified the woman as Sahel Kazemi, whom he called a "friend" of McNair's. She had a single gunshot wound to the head.
Police said McNair was found on the sofa, and Kazemi was very close to him on the floor. Aaron said the gun was not "readily apparent when the scene was first locked down."
Autopsies for both were planned for Sunday.
Aaron said McNair's wife, Mechelle, is "very distraught."
"At this juncture, we do not believe she is involved," he said. "Nothing has been ruled out, but as far as actively looking for a suspect tonight, the answer would be no."
The bodies were discovered Saturday afternoon by one of McNair's longtime friends.
Police said Kazemi was arrested Thursday on a DUI charge while driving a 2007 Escalade registered to her and McNair. McNair was in the front seat, but didn't break the law and was allowed to leave by taxi.
McNair was 36 and played 13 seasons before retiring in April 2008.
Earlier on Saturday, Aaron said authorities were still investigating the shootings and that no suspects were in custody.
"I don't have any answers for you now as to what's happened, who's responsible," Aaron said.
"There are persons who were around the complex today, visitors, who have been taken to headquarters for questioning, just to see what they know, what they may have seen," he said.
Aaron said officers went to the scene after receiving a call about injured persons inside the condo.
"When police officers arrived in response to that call, they found two individuals who had been shot to death inside the residence," he said.
The condominium is one that McNair was known to frequent, but police spokeswoman Kristin Mumford said she didn't know if he was the owner.
About 50 people crowded just beyond police tape outside the complex in the upscale Rutledge Hill neighborhood, some wearing Titans hats. The condominium is located within walking distance of an area filled with restaurants and nightspots, a few blocks from the Cumberland River and within view of the Titans' stadium.
"We don't know the details, but it is a terrible tragedy and our hearts go out to the families involved," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
In June, McNair opened a restaurant near the Tennessee State University campus. It was closed Saturday evening, but had become a small memorial, where flowers, candles and notes had been placed outside the door.
On the restaurant's windows were messages: "We will miss you Steve" and "We love you Steve."
A note attached to a small blue teddy bear read, "We will never forget you, Steve. Once a Titan, always a Titan."
