January 03, 2007 @ 10:40 am

Broncos Mourn Williams, Search For Killer Continues

Mariel Concepcion

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"We're working around the clock on this investigation," police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. "It's a situation where anyone who knows what happened or has any information, we'd love to hear." Jackson said the police had not identified any suspects, and were unsure what sparked an altercation at a night club before the shooting that also wounded two other people. Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting early Monday, hours after the Broncos were eliminated from playoff contention, by a single gunshot wound to the neck according to Robert Whitmore, chief medical examiner in the county coroner's office. The team will hold a private memorial today at Bronco headquarters. The team also will fly together to Fort Worth, Texas, for Williams' funeral on Saturday. "Darrent was a guy that was always upbeat, always had a smile and he was a fierce competitor," said Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, fighting back tears. "He's in a better place right now. It's hard to understand right now. He's a good man. He's up in heaven right now." Receiver Javon Walker was with Williams in the limousine when he was killed and was one of several Broncos who met with professional counselors the team brought in. "He just went through a tragic experience," Shanahan said. "A lot of times when somebody has that happen to them, they wonder why it [wasn't them]. That's just human nature and obviously the counselors are talking with him about that. It's a process. It takes some time." "Today wasn't about football or the offseason or the future," safety Nick Ferguson said yesterday, after the team gathered in the locker room. "Today was to grieve and remember the good things about him. … Today we joked, laughed and embraced a lot, what a family does." Fans built a makeshift memorial of flowers, photos, teddy bears and footballs outside team headquarters, one of three around the city. There were also memorials at the scene of the shooting and at Invesco Field. A viewing was scheduled Friday evening at the Great Commission Baptist Church in Fort Worth, with the funeral scheduled for Saturday at the same church, Williams' agent Jeff Griffin said. Williams had a 7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter who live in Fort Worth. A memorial fund was set up in their honor.

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