Houston Texans’ wide receiver Tank Dell was hit with a bullet during a nightclub shooting in Florida just after midnight Saturday. Dell is among ten people who were injured in the shooting. He was treated for a minor wound and released from the hospital on Sunday.
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The NFL Team released a statement on social media on Sunday, writing:
We have been made aware that Tank Dell was a victim of a shooting in Sanford, Fla. last night. He sustained a minor wound but has been released from the hospital and he is in good spirits. We are in contact with him and his family and will provide more updates when appropriate but we ask that you please respect his privacy at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the incident.
Seminole County Sheriff’s Department reported that nobody was killed in the shooting and that all 10 individuals who sustained injuries were in not life-threatening condition.
According to the police report, a fistfight occurred inside Cabana Live Club when an uninvolved suspect began firing into a crowd of people shortly after midnight. Venue security managed to apprehend the gunman.
Police have arrested a 16-year-old, Christopher Bouie Jr., in connection with the shooting, charging him with attempted homicide, firing a weapon on public property, use and display of a firearm during a felony, and possession of a firearm by a minor, according to Fox News. Bouie Jr. is accused of using a 9mm handgun in the commission of the crime. Authorities found spent shell cases at the scene matching that found in the magazine of the firearm.
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Cabana Live released a statement:
As most of you have heard, there was an incident outside our establishment last night. We are cooperating with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and praying for all those involved. We reserved our venue out for a private event and we are still learning as the investigation continues what was the cause of this isolated incident. Our Cabana Live family is 100% safe and appreciate all the prayers and concerns. We are open our normal business hours.
Dell, age 24, is from Daytona Beach and played at Mainland High School. As a third-round draft pick out of the University of Houston, Dell had a break-out rookie year with the Texans in 2023 before suffering a fractured fibula during the week 13 game in December.
The season-ending injury prevented him from competing in the team’s playoff run, which ended in a loss to NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round.
His injury came after a highlight-reel-worthy week 11 performance against the Arizona Cardinals, where Dell connected with Offensive Rookie of the Year, Quarterback C.J. Stroud, for eight receptions on ten targets for a career-high 149 yards and one touchdown.
Dell ended his rookie season with 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in the 11 games he played.
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Controversy is brewing within the sports community over one commenter’s reaction to the news of Dell being shot. ESPN’s Mike Brindisi is accused of reportedly making a since-deleted post that read “I hope your boy bleeds out,” after the news of Dell’s gun wound broke on Sunday.
While sports trash talk is expected within the football community, wishing death on an innocent bystander of a crime is clearly across the line, especially from a sports journalist.
This is a developing story RedState will continue to monitor.
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