Memphis Player Slain Sunday

Oct 05, 11:09 AM

Current Headlines: By WOODY BAIRD

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Classes at the University of Memphis were canceled Monday after a football player was fatally shot on campus, in what school officials said was a targeted attack but city police later said could have been random.

By late Monday afternoon police had not identified any suspects in the slaying of Taylor Bradford, who was shot about 9:45 p.m. Sunday, apparently near a university housing complex.

After the shooting, the 21- year-old junior crashed a car he was driving into a tree. Police said they had not determined whether he was shot before or after he started driving the vehicle.

University President Shirley Raines said authorities quickly determined Bradford's killers were not a threat to other students but still banned all outsiders from campus housing throughout the night.

In an e-mail alert to faculty, students and staff members at 3:40 a.m. Monday, the university said "the initial investigation indicates this was an act directed specifically toward the victim and was not a random act of violence."

The university, which is primarily a commuter campus, still decided to cancel classes. The University of Memphis had 20,562 students enrolled for last fall, according to its Web site.

City Police Director Larry Godwin said investigators had no evidence that Bradford was involved in any illegal activity.

Bradford, a 5-foot-11, 300- pound defensive lineman, was a junior who transferred to Memphis last year after two seasons at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. The Nashville resident was to have begun playing for the Tigers this season.

"Our entire football team is deeply saddened by the loss of Taylor," Memphis head coach Tommy West said. "He was well respected and a popular member of our team."

The Memphis Tigers host Marshall University on Tuesday night, and a moment of silence was planned before the game.

Originally published by WOODY BAIRD Associated Press.

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