Miami Football Player Shot and Killed

University of Miami defensive end Bryan Pata was shot and killed yesterday night, shortly after leaving the practice field, school officials said.

The circumstances around Pata's death were not immediately clear, and Miami-Dade police refused to release specific information about what happened. A formal announcement was expected from the university later yesterday.

"Right now, we're just gathering ourselves and just trying to pull ourselves together," Miami athletic director Paul Dee said.

Pata, a graduate of Miami Central, was in his fourth year with the Hurricanes. He appeared in 41 games, making 23 starts, and was expected to be selected in next spring's NFL draft.

It was at least the fourth time that tragedy involving a player has struck the Hurricanes in recent years.

In April 1996,reserve linebacker and Miami native Marlin Barnes was murdered in a campus apartment. In 2003, former Miami safety Al Blades was killed in a car accident, about a year after former Miami linebacker Chris Campbell — who just had completed his eligibility with the Hurricanes — also died in a crash.

Pata's death was the second incident involving guns this season for the Hurricanes.