Rams WR Bailey critical, stable after being shot in Florida
ST. LOUIS (AP) Suspended St. Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey was shot and critically wounded as he and four other people were sitting in a car outside a home in the Miami area, police said Wednesday.
Bailey was at a hospital awaiting surgery for injuries that have not been disclosed by the Rams or the authorities. Another man, Antwan Reeves, was with Bailey and was also shot in the attack Tuesday night. Three others in the car, including two minors, were not wounded, police said.
''The victims drove themselves to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment,'' Miami Gardens police said in a statement. ''Based on reports from the hospital, Bailey is in critical but stable condition awaiting surgery.''
Police said they were looking for suspects, who had driven up in another car before shooting.
The Rams said they were aware Bailey was ''involved in an incident'' and that they had spoken with him.
''We are gathering facts about the situation and will provide updates as we learn more,'' the team said.
Bailey went to high school in the Miami area. His is in third season with the Rams but has been suspended twice by the NFL.
Bailey, who turned 25 on Nov. 11, was a third-round pick in the 2013 draft out of West Virginia, where he was part of a prolific wide receiving tandem with Tavon Austin, whom the Rams selected with the eighth overall pick that year.
Bailey was suspended four games this month for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. He has two games remaining on the ban. He served a two-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs at the start of last season.
According to police, Bailey, Reeves and the three others were sitting in a car at about 8:45 p.m. ET Tuesday at a local residence. Another vehicle arrived and ''opened fire,'' police said. Reeves was taken into surgery shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Players from around the league reached out on social media shortly after reports emerged.
''Keep our brother (at)iamSB3 in your thoughts, prayers tonight. I don't wanna believe it,'' Rams defensive end Chris Long tweeted.
Pittsburgh Steelers star running back Le'Veon Bell used Twitter to send his best wishes: ''prayers to my brother Stedman Bailey.''
Rams punter Johnny Hekker tweeted, ''Praying for guardian angels over Sted. We're with you brother.''
Bailey has started three games each of the last two seasons, and this year has 12 receptions for 182 yards with one touchdown. He was fined for pulling a stunt after the lone score after using the ball as a pillow and lying down in the end zone.
Last year, he had 30 receptions with a 14.5-yard average and one touchdown. He was among five Rams receivers who did the ''Hands Up, Don't Shoot'' gesture during player introductions before a game last December as a show of solidarity for protesters in nearby Ferguson, Missouri.
The Rams signed free-agent wide receiver Wes Welker after Bailey's second suspension. Bailey is eligible to return to the roster on Dec. 7, the day after the Rams play at Arizona.
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This story has been corrected to show Miami Gardens police are handling the case.
