Curtis Brinkley, a former Syracuse tailback, was shot while driving through a Philadelphia suburb at approximately 12:02 a.m. on Friday, July 10. A spokesman at Albert Einstein Medical Center said that Brinkley had been listed in critical condition. He was released July 11 but had bullet fragments lodged in his back, according to a report in the Philadelphia Daily News.

Shortly after the shooting, the Syracuse Athletic Department released a statement: ‘Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone and the Orange football family extend their thoughts and prayers to former Syracuse running back Curtis Brinkley ’09 and his family. We wish him a full and speedy recovery.’

Brinkley signed with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in April, but his football career appears to be in jeopardy. The Chargers also released a statement regarding the shooting: ‘The entire organization wishes Curtis a quick and full recovery. The team has learned no other details about the incident and will have no further comment while local authorities conduct their investigation.’

The Chargers placed Brinkley on the Reserve/Non-football injury list on July 24, meaning he is still connected to the San Diego organization. It is unknown whether Brinkley will ultimately try to play again.

‘Unfortunately, Curtis is not ready to help us in camp at this point,’ Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said. ‘We’re going to monitor this situation and see what unfolds in the future regarding Curtis.’

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Brinkley was in his car stopped at the intersection of Ashbourne Road and Spring Avenue in Cheltenham Township, Pa., when a gunman walked up and started blasting a handgun, hitting Brinkley twice. He was waiting for his sister to finish work at a nearby adult-care facility.

Brinkley, who lives in Philadelphia and went to West Catholic High School, sped away in reverse, hitting a fence, some bushes and a parked car before putting the car in drive and speeding away. A police officer who was responding to the gunshots found him shortly after. The gunman immediately fled the site in a waiting car that was parked on an adjacent street.

Anthony Peterson, 23, turned himself into authorities Saturday, Aug. 10, according to The Associated Press. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman said Peterson was romantically involved with Brinkley’s sister and thought he was shooting at a rival. Ferman called the incident ‘a case of mistaken identity.’

Brinkley, 23, rushed for 2,132 yards and 11 touchdowns in his four-year Syracuse career before graduating in May. He was the Orange’s best offensive player last season, exploding for 1,164 yards and seven touchdowns, while serving as a vocal team leader. At the time of the shooting, the Inquirer reported he needed 6 to 8 weeks to recover.

For now, Brinkley will wait, hoping one day to have another chance at the game he loves.

‘I’m just happy to be alive,’ Brinkley told the North County (Calif.) Times last month. ‘Now my focus is to get healthy and get back to being a productive football player.’

jediamon@syr.edu

A version of this story appeared on dailyorange.com on July 10.

Published on August 25, 2009 at 12:00 pm