Carruth Now Sought on Murder Charges

Carolina Panther wide receiver Rae Carruth was sought on murder charges Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C., after his girlfriend died of wounds from a shooting last month.

Carruth, 25, and three other men originally were charged with conspiracy and attempted murder in the Nov. 16 shooting of Cherica Adams. Carruth was out on $3-million bail on the earlier charges.

Police searched for Carruth throughout Charlotte, but he had not been arrested by late Tuesday night.

His attorney, George Laughrun, was finally able to talk with Carruth late Tuesday night.

“I talked with him about 15 to 20 minutes ago, after speaking with his mother several times through the day,” Laughrun said. “I told him he needs to turn himself in. I’m waiting on another call from him.”

Adams, 24, died early in the afternoon surrounded by family, said a spokesman at Carolinas Medical Center.

She was 6 1/2 months pregnant when she was shot four times in the neck and chest from a passing vehicle as she drove through a Charlotte neighborhood, forcing an emergency delivery of her baby boy.

Carruth was in a car near where Adams was shot, and the three other men were in a separate vehicle, prosecutors said. They allegedly were in contact by cell phone.

The three other defendants were each jailed on $1.5-million bail. Prosecutors said they also will file first-degree murder charges against them.

The condition of the baby, Chancellor Lee Adams, has improved in the weeks since the shooting. He was moved out of a neonatal intensive care nursery earlier this month.

The Panthers were walking off their practice field after a workout when they were told of Adams’ death.

“It’s the worst, worst possible scenario and news any of us could have ever thought of,” quarterback Steve Beuerlein said. “Our hearts in the Panthers’ organization go out to the family.”

Coach George Seifert offered a similar sentiment, adding, “We’re just hopeful that the baby does well.”

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Offensive lineman Nate Newton’s 14-year NFL career moved closer to ending when the Panthers put him on injured reserve because of a torn right triceps tendon. Newton, 38, would not commit to another season.

The Panthers filled Newton’s roster spot by signing free-agent center-guard Clay Shiver.

Also put on injured reserve was kicker John Kasay (torn knee ligament), the NFC scoring leader with 99 points. Carolina auditioned several kickers before signing Richie Cunningham, released last week by the Dallas Cowboys.

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Negotiating without an agent, Cincinnati Bengal tight end Tony McGee agreed to a three-year, $5.4-million contract extension. McGee, who would have been an unrestricted free agent after the season, received a $2-million signing bonus. Meanwhile, the Bengals changed backup cornerbacks, claiming Tom Carter off waivers from the Chicago Bears and waiving Rico Clark. . . . Lomas Brown, the Cleveland Browns’ veteran offensive tackle, is out for the rest of the season because of a sprained knee suffered in a Nov. 14 victory over the Steelers. . . . Jacksonville Jaguar running back James Stewart will be slowed by the left foot he sprained in Monday night’s victory over the Denver Broncos but Coach Tom Coughlin said it is not known yet whether it will keep him out of Sunday’s game against the Browns. . . . The Detroit Lions signed free-agent cornerback Dwayne Harper and put cornerback Terry Fair on the reserve non-football injury list. Fair broke a knuckle on his right hand in a Dec. 3 accident. . . . The Raiders signed kicker Joe Nedney, further threatening the job security of Michael Husted, who missed two field goals in a 21-14 loss at Tennessee last week and is only 20 for 31 this season.