Jury identifies gunman in Sean Taylor murder case

MIAMI – The 17-year-old suspect in the death of Sean Taylor was accused Tuesday of firing the shot that killed the Washington Redskins safety.\nA Miami-Dade grand jury identified Eric Rivera as the gunman in its indictment.\nRivera and his three co-defendants were indicted by the grand jury on charges of first-degree felony murder and armed burglary.\nCharles Wardlow, 18; Jason Mitchell, 19; and Venjah Hunte, 20, were ordered to be held without bail during brief court appearances via a video conference from the Miami-Dade County jail. The three, who stood silently during the hearing, will remain at the jail under suicide watch after Judge John Thornton, Jr.’s ruling.\nRivera, still in custody in Fort Myers, was expected to be transported to Miami-Dade on Tuesday night and make a court appearance Wednesday. One of his attorneys said the grand jury’s identification of Rivera as the gunman was expected.\n“This does not come as a surprise,” said Sawyer Smith, who represents Rivera along with his father, Wilbur.\nThe 24-year-old Taylor died Nov. 27, a day after he was shot in the bedroom of his home. Police said he was a victim of a botched burglary.\n“I think he’s in disbelief over what occurred,” said Wilbur Smith of Rivera. “His expression to me was that ‘I can’t believe this kind of thing happened.’”\nAsked how he would defend his client, Wilbur Smith said simply: “Stay tuned.”\nAttorneys said the four young men were visibly agitated.\n“He’s very distraught,” said Hunte’s attorney, Michael Hornung. “He’s scared.”\nHornung offered glimpses of his client’s possible involvement. He said Hunte was the only suspect with a valid driver’s license and was behind the wheel at least part of the time. He said Hunte did not have a gun and did not know his friends’ plans.\n“Just a bunch of friends that evening said they were going to the East Coast, and he went along,” Hornung said. “He had no idea whatsoever what was going on.”\nHunte is cooperating with police, his attorney said, and would tell them everything he knows.\nProbable cause affidavits for Mitchell and Rivera said the two confessed to participating in armed burglary. According to the reports, Mitchell and Rivera admitted entering the home and said someone had a gun and shot Taylor, but they did not identify who. Police and attorneys have also said some of the young men confessed, though they would not elaborate.\nWardlow’s attorney, David Brener, did not return a phone message.\nWilbur and Sawyer Smith have said there is a fifth suspect, though police would not confirm that.\nThe court proceedings came a day after Taylor’s funeral, which was held at a university arena and drew about 3,000 mourners. Among those attending were NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, 300 members of the Redskins organization and actor Andy Garcia, uncle of Taylor’s girlfriend, Jackie Garcia.