Fla. man faces prison in Sean Taylor slaying

MIAMI — A man prosecutors say fired the fatal shots in the 2007 killing of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor is about to learn the length of his prison sentence.

A judge is scheduled Thursday afternoon to sentence 23-year-old Eric Rivera Jr., who was convicted in November of second-degree murder and armed burglary. Rivera faces a maximum life sentence but could get less.

Rivera told police in a videotaped confession that he and other young men from the Fort Myers area broke into Taylor’s Miami-area house hoping to steal cash the NFL player kept there. Taylor surprised them because he was home instead of with the Redskins and was shot after confronting them with a machete.

Rivera testified someone else fired the fatal shot. Three others are awaiting trial in the case.


(ap.com)