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Tank Dale, a wide receiver for the NFL’s Houston Texans, was injured in a shooting in Sanford, Florida on Sunday that left 10 people injured.
Dell, 24, is in good spirits after suffering a minor injury in the shooting, the team said in a statement. statement Posted on X. He has since been discharged from the hospital.
“We are in touch with him and his family and will provide further updates when appropriate, but we ask that you please respect their privacy at this time,” the statement said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the incident.”
Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma said at a news conference Monday afternoon that Dale was caught in the middle of the crossfire and had no connection to the gunmen. Sanford is about 20 miles north of Orlando.
The sheriff said authorities have not yet decided whether the 16-year-old suspected shooter will be charged as an adult.
Lemma said nine of the 10 people who were shot have been released from the hospital with minor wounds. The last victim should be released soon, he said.
According to the sheriff, investigators believe the teen pulled out a 9mm handgun after a physical altercation and began shooting. The search is on for a second person who may have fired in self-defense, Lemma said.
“So what we have is a physical altercation going on, two guys on the left and right side of the issue engaged in gunfire,” he said.
Lemma said the actions of a security guard, who wrestled the 16-year-old suspect to the ground and turned him over to police, “made the situation very dangerous and made it less significant than it potentially could have been.”
Lemma said that the event was attended by about 200 people, including Dell, who was invited by the promoters. It was being held at Cabana Live, which is open to the public as a restaurant and bar. The venue is also leased out for private events and private parties.
According to the sheriff, the promoters had 10 armed security members on site.
“Security was checking IDs at the door and then patting people down for weapons,” Lemma said.
The sheriff said they don’t know how the 16-year-old got into the party and the investigation is ongoing. He said the recovered gun was purchased legally in Miami in 2018, but the sheriff does not know how the teen allegedly obtained it.
According to the NFL, Dale is from Daytona Beach, Florida. Daytona Beach is about 40 miles from Sanford.
The Texans selected him in the third round of the 2023 draft. In his stellar rookie season he had 47 catches and seven touchdowns in 11 games. However, his year ended prematurely when he broke his tibia in December.
CNN’s Steve Almasy contributed to this report.
