JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The woman who was with Jaguars offensive lineman Richard Collier when gunfire erupted said the shooting that left the football player paralyzed continues to weigh on her everyday.
"I couldn't believe it at first. I just didn't want to believe it, and then when I realized it was real, I couldn?t help but to cry," said the woman who out of fear asked not to be identified.
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Her friend, Collier, remains in an area hospital recovering from his injuries. The gunman who opened fire on him on Sept. 2 remains at large.
"I didn't know it was that serious. I didn't know how many times he got shot. I only heard about five gunshots," Collier's friend said.
However, she found out more details on Monday when doctors publicly announced that Collier had been shot 14 times and that his injuries have put an end to his football career.
They said the shooting left Collier paralyzed from the waist down and part of his left leg had to be amputated.
"It was his career, and he was working so hard. I feel like whoever did it, they did it on purpose just to ruin -- whatever -- his career out of jealousy," said Collier's friend.
The shooting happened outside the woman's apartment when they were dropping off her car. She said she was inside when the shots were fired.
"I want to know why. I don?t know why somebody would do that. It just doesn?t make any sense at all. Nothing that night makes sense to me," she said.
As she tries to come to grips what happened, she said her thoughts and prayers are with Collier.
"I want him to know that I care about his and I'm praying for him to get better, and that I wish none of it ever happened or there was a way I could?ve helped or prevented it. I just wish I could?ve done something. I wish things were different,"
She said she has cooperated with police from the begin of their investigation, including a 6 hours of questioning and a lie detector test to prove she was not involved.
Police have not made any arrests in the case. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Crimestoppers at 866-845-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a $26,000 reward.