Filed under: Football
Gridiron offensive tackle Brandon Joyce (pictured above) was shot on Christmas Eve, three days later taken off life support and pronounced dead in an alleged drug deal gone bad.
The 26-year-old former Minnesota Vikings player was reportedly trying to purchase drugs from four men outside a St. Charles, Missouri Bass Pro Shop. According to a police statement, Joyce and a friend had planned to buy drugs from the suspects Cory J. Brooks, 21 (pictured above, right), Tory T. Brooks, 21 (pictured above, left), and Deveon C. Shockley, 21 (pictured above, center).
The men had allegedly tried to rob Joyce and when an altercation broke out in the parking lot, the fourth suspect Jevon Little, 20 (pictured below), pulled out a gun and shot the NFL player once in the head. Little fled the scene after the shooting but was apprehended four days later.
Joyce's friend was not identified in court documents. Police records state that the friend ran away from the heated confrontation and called 911.
The suspects are charged with second-degree murder, attempted robbery and two counts of armed criminal action. They were booked Tuesday at the St. Charles County Jail in lieu of a $1 million cash bail each.
Joyce, the son of 70's NFL St. Louis Cardinals punter Terry Joyce was on the off-season roster for the St. Louis Rams from April until late July, just before the start of training camp for this season.
The Joyce family are upset by the drug allegations report that has been released by the St. Charles Police Department which is casting shadows on Brandon's character. Lindsay Joyce, Brandon's sister, is referring to her brother as a hero for trying to save his friend's life by taking a bullet for him. The family contends that any drug involvement on Brandon's part is completely untrue and out of character, the grieving sister told KSDK News.