Carruth Arrested in Shooting

Nine days after his pregnant girlfriend was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting, wide receiver Rae Carruth of the Carolina Panthers was arrested Thursday and charged with taking part in the crime.

Carruth, 25, was being held at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg jail on charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, attempted murder and shooting in an occupied vehicle.

Early Thursday evening, William E. Watkins, 44, of Charlotte, was arrested on identical charges after speaking at length with investigators. No bond was immediately set for Watkins.

The arrest of Watkins, who was described by authorities as an acquaintance of Carruth, came several hours after police said they believe the player had help planning and executing the shooting of Cherica Adams. She was struck by four bullets fired from a passing vehicle as she drove through a Charlotte neighborhood Nov. 16.

“There’s at least one other,” Capt. Sean Mulhall said when asked about additional suspects. “But we’re not willing to say much more than that at this point.”

Three authorities who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition they not be identified said police believe as many as four people were involved in the crime.

Carruth, the Panthers’ first-round draft choice in 1997, was taken before a magistrate, who ordered him held without bond pending an arraignment today.

While Carruth was being processed into the penal system, his teammates were finishing a two-hour practice in preparation for Sunday night’s game against the Atlanta Falcons at Charlotte. Team security director Gene Brown told Coach George Seifert of the arrest, and the coach informed the players at the end of the workout.

“I’d be lying if I said we weren’t all surprised that this whole thing could ever develop,” quarterback Steve Beuerlein said.