Ex-Raiders receiver Henry Ruggs apologizes to car crash victim's family
Ruggs, 26, was granted special release from prison to speak at a Hope For Prisoners event, the group said in a Facebook post.
He was sentenced to three to 10 years after he pleaded guilty in 2023 to a felony count of DUI resulting in death and misdemeanor manslaughter. The crash was the result of drunk driving and speeding and killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor.
"It's an unfortunate situation that I'm sure we all wish we can make some choices again and turn back the hands of time," he said in a livestream of the event. "I never saw myself in that type of situation."
Ruggs said he never planned on driving that night.
Police said Ruggs was driving his Corvette at 156 mph while drunk when he crashed into Tintor's vehicle on Nov. 2, 2021. She died of thermal injuries after the car caught fire, the medical examiner's office said. Her dog also died in the crash.
When asked what he would say to Tintor's family, Ruggs responded: "I would love for them to meet the real Henry Ruggs and not the one that was escaping from something."
"I sincerely apologize for not only being a part of that situation, but the fact that my face is always in the news, my face is always in the newspaper, so they have to constantly be reminded of the situation," he continued.
The former NFL athlete, who attended the University of Alabama, was drafted by the Raiders in 2020, but was dropped from the team hours after the crash. Ruggs said he would love the opportunity to play football again and would be open to returning to the Raiders.
"I would love to come and go out gracefully," he said. "I don't feel like I ended on the terms that are meaningful to me and that I value."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Daily Mail
NFL to review Isaiah Bond's sexual assault case after Texas cops declined to charge Browns hopeful
The NFL is reviewing the case of rookie free-agent wide receiver Isaiah Bond after Frisco, Texas police declined to proceed with sexual assault charges against him in April. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told on Friday that Bond's case is currently being reviewed. The league's personal conduct policy does not require criminal charges in order for a player to be punished, so the fact that Bond wasn't charged won't protect him from a possible suspension. Bond has not signed with a team yet, but previously announced his intention to join the Cleveland Browns. ESPN is reporting that Bond will meet the Browns in Cleveland on Saturday night to finalize his deal following the team's preseason game in Philadelphia earlier in the day. 'First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Cleveland Browns for believing in me and allowing me the opportunity to continue my career in the NFL,' Bond said in a statement after charges against him were dropped. 'Football has been my passion since I was six years old, and playing at this level is a blessing I will never take for granted. I understand that playing in the NFL is a privilege, and I'm thankful every day to live my childhood dream. 'I know there have been questions and reports about the recent allegations,' he continued. 'I am grateful for the decision of the prosecutor and the courts not to pursue charges. I will learn from this experience as I grow in wisdom, character, and faith. 'On the advice of my attorney, I will not discuss the details of this case, but I want to be clear: from the very beginning I have refuted these allegations and maintained my innocence. I stand firm by that today.' Details of the allegations remain unclear, but Bond has filed suit against his accuser, claiming their encounter was consensual and that the woman was seeking a financial settlement. According to the complaint obtained by Daily Mail, the accuser 'did make the indirect threat that, due to Bond's high-profile status, Bond "better be careful not to catch a case."' Bond's attorneys claimed he asked the woman to leave at that point, only for her to demand $5,000 or face the accusation that he 'assaulted her during their consensual sexual encounter.' Both sides have since agreed to a resolution and the case was dismissed with prejudice. Bond made a name for himself at Texas with his blinding speed and later ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine in just 4.39 second. He was expected to be a Day 2 draft pick, with ESPN's Mel Kiper arguing he should go before the third round. But, following the sexual assault claims, Bond went undrafted in April. Now he has a chance to catch on in Cleveland, where the Browns are looking to complement star receiver Jerry Jeudy with a deep threat who can stretch opposing defenses downfield. Of course, head coach Kevin Stefanski is still working to determine which of his five quarterbacks will be under center in Week 1: Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Brett Hundley, Joe Flacco or Kelly Pickett.
Auto Blog
a day ago
- Auto Blog
Texas Theft Ring Steals $1M in Camaros & Corvettes, 29 Cars Recovered
The 'C8,' or eighth-generation, Corvette brought the most dramatic transformation in the history of 'America's sports car.' But Chevrolet today revealed a pair of new concept vehicles that suggest equally dramatic changes are in the works. A brazen theft ring in Texas managed to steal more than $1.1 million worth of Chevrolet Camaros and Corvettes in just two months, according to the Plano Police Department. Their preferred targets were parked in apartment complexes and gym lots — prime hunting grounds for crews exploiting weaknesses in keyless entry systems. Once in, the thieves didn't immediately ship the cars off or dismantle them. Instead, they often took them for joyrides, posted videos online, and then sold them on for as little as $5,000 each. Dashcam footage from one Camaro SS even captured the break-in, helping investigators locate a storage unit containing 29 stolen vehicles. From Social Media Fame to Arrests Fortunately, it was the groups arrogance that was the demise that did them in. Police tracked the suspects through Instagram posts showing them doing donuts, revving engines, and boasting about their 'finds'. Within weeks, authorities had recovered all of the 29 vehicles and arrested the five individuals responsible for the crimes. The cars in question weren't random — the Camaro, in particular, is already the most-stolen vehicle in America, largely because of its high-performance hardware and the black-market demand for its LT engines. Corvettes, with their similarly potent drivetrains, offer the same appeal for illegal street racers and parts resellers. Source: General Motors Why These Cars Are Targets Beyond the obvious horsepower, both models share mechanical platforms that make engine swaps relatively straightforward. Add in a thriving underground market for body panels, wheels, and interiors, and it's easy to see why these Chevrolets are on every thief's shopping list. While U.S. car theft rates fell by 17% in 2024, thanks to better vehicle security and law enforcement crackdowns, certain high-powered models remain disproportionately at risk. Push-button start systems and easily accessible OBD ports continue to be exploited, sometimes in under two minutes by the right thieves who are familiar with such systems. Source: Exotic Car Trader Protecting What's Yours For owners of Camaros, Corvettes, and other high-performance vehicles, multi-layered security is the best defense. OBD port locks, hidden kill-switches, and GPS tracking systems can make theft far harder and recovery far more likely. Simple changes like parking nose-in against a wall or inside a locked garage can also deter thieves. Law enforcement officials stress that while national trends may show an overall drop, the market for stolen performance cars is still thriving — especially when they can be acquired cheaply and resold quickly. For now, it's a dangerous time to be driving America's most desirable muscle cars without added protection. About the Author Max Taylor View Profile
Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
Report: NFL investigating case of free agent WR Isaiah Bond
August 15 - The NFL is looking into the now-closed criminal case against former Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond, who announced on social media that he expects to sign with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told Friday that the case was under review, despite a grand jury in Collin County, Texas, deciding Thursday not to indict Bond on a sexual account charge following his arrest in April. He still could face punishment under the league's personal conduct policy once he signs with a team. He posted to X on Thursday that would be the Browns, although the team's front office has not confirmed that. "First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Cleveland Browns for believing in me and allowing me the opportunity to continue my career in the NFL," Bond said. "Football has been my passion since I was six years old, and playing at this level is a blessing I will never take for granted. I understand that playing in the NFL is a privilege, and I'm thankful every day to live my childhood dream. "I know there have been questions and reports about the recent allegations. I am grateful for the decision of the prosecutor and the courts not to pursue charges. I will learn from this experience as I grow in wisdom, character, and faith. On the advice of my attorney, I will not discuss the details of this case, but I want to be clear: from the very beginning I have refuted these allegations and maintained my innocence. I stand firm by that today." At Texas, Bond played just one season after transferring from Alabama. The Georgia native caught 34 catches for 540 yards, reeling in five touchdowns over 14 games. Bond ran a 4.39 40-yard-dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. And while he was expected to be a Day 2 draft pick -- ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. had pegged him as a late second-round pick -- he was not selected, reportedly over character concerns as well as his size (5-foot-11, 180 pounds). --Field Level Media
