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Jordan Lernan, ESPN Staff Writer
Former New York Giants and Florida State wide receiver Travis Rudolph was acquitted Wednesday of four counts from the 2021 shooting that killed a man in a crash outside Rudolph’s, Florida, home.
Rudolph, who left college to sign as an undrafted free agent and spent the 2017 season with the Giants, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder. He was acquitted by a jury of his colleagues after claiming the shooting was self-defense.
Two men were shot dead and one, Sébastien Jean-Jacques, was killed in the shooting in Lake Park, Florida.
The April 7, 2021 shooting occurred after an altercation between Rudolph and then-girlfriend Dominic Jones. Not long after, Rudolph confronted four men at his home. It ended with Rudolf firing 39 shots into the SUV.
A judge last year rejected Rudolph’s request to dismiss the lawsuit under Florida’s “hold your ground” law. The Act authorizes the use of lethal force when reasonably determined necessary to protect against imminent death or serious bodily harm.
Rudolph caught eight passes for 101 yards and no touchdowns during his rookie season with the Giants. He was fired the following summer and then transferred to the Miami Dolphins. His knee injury ultimately ended his NFL career.
But after Wednesday’s ruling, Rudolph’s agent Zach Hiller of LAA Sports & Entertainment told ESPN that Rudolph’s clients are excited to be back in football. Rudolph is 27 years old.
Rudolph was FSU’s main receiver in 2015 and 2016, finishing his career with 2,311 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns before leaving early for the NFL Draft. He failed the draft, spent time with the Giants and Dolphins, and then signed up for the Canadian Football League.