Update: The Las Vegas Raiders released wide receiver Henry Ruggs on Tuesday night after he was involved in a fatal car crash, for which he has been charged with felony DUI resulting in a death, CNN reports. Our previous story from Tuesday follows:
Henry Ruggs, a 22-year-old wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders, was in a fatal car crash early Tuesday morning, and police say he'll be charged with felony DUI resulting in death. A Toyota RAV4 and a green Corvette collided at about 3:40am in a residential area a few miles from the Las Vegas Strip. Police say that when they arrived, they found Ruggs at the scene showing "signs of impairment," reports the AP. Police say he had been driving the Corvette. A woman was found dead in the Toyota. Police, who have not identified that driver, say her car was engulfed in flames, per Fox News. Ruggs had a passenger in his car who was also taken to the hospital, ESPN reports. Police haven’t identified her, either.
"We are devastated by the loss of life and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s family," the Raiders said in a statement. Ruggs’ lawyers, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfield, say they are also investigating the crash "and ask everyone to reserve judgment until all the facts are gathered." Ruggs, who is originally from Montgomery, Alabama, is in his second year in the NFL. He lost his best friend, Roderic Scott, in a car accident in 2016 when Scott was 17 and pays tribute to his friend by raising three fingers in the air after big plays. Scott played football, too, and his jersey number was 3. If convicted, Ruggs will face 2 to 20 years in prison; probation is not an option. (More NFL stories.)