JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Three months after his life was changed forever by a gunman, former Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier is talking about the shooting that cost him a leg and left him paralyzed from the waist down.
In an interview with ESPN, Collier said he didn't realize the extent of his injuries until he asked his sister to help him get out of his hospital bed.
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"I was laying down the whole time and I was like, man, I was talking to my sister and I want to get up and walk around the bed. 'Why don't you help me get up and let me lean my arm on you and walk around the bed,' and she just bust out crying, 'Please don't do this.'
"I'm like, 'What are you talking about?' and she had to tell me, 'Your leg is gone....' I looked under the covers and it was bad. I wanted everybody out of the room, you know, I ordered everybody to leave."
Weeks later, Collier continues to rehabilitate.
Police said Tyrone Hartsfield followed Collier and a former teammate as they left a San Marco club to follow two women home in the early morning hours of Sept. 2. As Collier sat in his SUV waiting for the women to come back outside, he was shot 14 times.
Collier remained in critical condition for weeks and doctors said most people would not have survived such extensive injuries.
Detectives believe the shooting was an act of revenge by Hartsfield trying to get even for an earlier fight months earlier at an Arlington nightclub.
Despite his injuries and his doctor's feeling that it will take a miracle for Collier to walk again, the former offensive tackle said he is not giving up hope.
"It took a miracle to survive 14 shots, you know. It took a miracle for me to go to the NFL... It's a miracle for me to be alive right now," Collier told ESPN. "I have faith in God and I know he'll pull me through."
Previous Stories:
- December 2, 2008: Richard Collier Speaks Out About Shooting
- November 10, 2008: Man Pleads Not Guilty In Jaguar's Shooting
- November 3, 2008: 20 Hospital Workers Fired for Viewing Collier's Medical Records
- October 23, 2008: Jaguars Back At Practice, Thinking Of Collier
- October 20, 2008: Police: Bar Fight Prompted Shooting Of Jaguars' Player
- October 20, 2008: Police Make Arrest In Jaguars' Player Shooting
- October 14, 2008: Rel Rio: Collier Out Of Hospital, Recovering
- October 1, 2008: Woman With Collier On Night Of Shooting Says She Is Tormented
- September 30, 2008: College Honors Collier By Wearing His Number On Helmet
- September 30, 2008: Surgeon: Collier Paralyzed, Loses Left Leg
- September 10, 2008: Woman With Collier On Night Of Shooting Speaks Out
- September 9, 2008: Teammates Add To Reward In Collier Shooting Case
- September 5, 2008: Report: Collier Making Gradual Improvement
- September 2, 2008: Jaguars Tackle Critical After Shooting