Ex-Football Star Killed; Brother Held
An Orange County man angered over his brother’s use of drugs chased the former football star from their Santa Ana home and shot him to death, police said today.
Rodney White Traylor, 27, a former San Jose State University football star, died this morning at Fountain Valley Regional Medical Center of a bullet wound in the groin, hospital spokeswoman Sue De La Rosa said.
His brother, Reginald, 28, was initially booked for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon Monday, Santa Ana Police Lt. Robert Chavez said. But that was changed to murder after Rodney died at 9:11 a.m. and Reginald’s bail was increased from $25,000 to $250,000, Sgt. Collie Provence said.
“Reginald had an argument over Rodney’s drug use and dealing and chased him out of the house on into the driveway. Rodney attempted to overcome Reginald, and he shot Rodney once,” Chavez said.
Janice Traylor, Reginald’s wife, said she and her husband had been trying for a long time to get Rodney to move out because his alleged drug use was a bad influence on their six children, ranging in age from 5 months to 6 years.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
