Receiver Kenny McKinley found dead

Kenny McKinley found dead

Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley was found dead in his Colorado home late Monday from an apparent suicide. Police said that the 23-year old player died from a single gun shot which was likely self-inflicted.

“Deputies discovered a male in the second-floor master bedroom of the home and determined that male was deceased,” a statement by the Arapahoe County sheriff's department said.

“Although the death of Mr. McKinley appears to be the result of a self-inflicted gunshot, the investigation into this matter...is ongoing,” the statement said.

McKinley was the 141^st pick overall in the 2009 draft of the NFL. He played college football for the University of South Carolina.

In his first season with the Broncos, McKinley played in eight games, but suffered a knee injury before the start of the 2010 season.

“Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley,” Pat Bowlen, president and CEO of the Denver Broncos, said in a statement posted on the team's website.

“He was part of the Broncos family and will be greatly missed by our organization. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny's family and friends,” Bowlen said.

Broncos coach Josh McDaniels described his player's death as tragic.

“Kenny had a promising future on the football field, but more importantly, he was a great teammate whose smile and personality could light up the room. This is a tragic loss for our football team, and his family is in all our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

McKinley is the third Broncos player and 10^th NFL player to have died since 2007.

Posted by Andre Monohan on Wednesday September 22 2010, 8:08 AM EST. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0