A Bronx man has been charged with attempted murder in the shooting of New York Jets player Kris Boyd, police announced Tuesday.
The New York police department said Frederick Green, 20, was charged late Monday night. Police had revealed Monday that a “person of interest” was in custody but didn’t name them. It was not immediately clear if Green has an attorney. He also faces additional charges of assault and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
Boyd was shot in the abdomen just after 2am on 16 November in midtown Manhattan. Boyd, his friend and two other Jets’ players, Irvin Charles and Jamien Sherwood, had left a club and were approached by a group of men who made fun of their clothing, police told reporters at a news briefing.
A fight eventually broke out between the men and Boyd was shot, police said. Boyd and his friends were not armed.
Boyd was hospitalized after the shooting but a few weeks later visited the Jets’ facility, surprising teammates and attending a special teams meeting.
Boyd, a 29-year-old cornerback who plays mainly on special teams, was a seventh-round selection by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2019 draft after his college career at Texas. He also played for the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals before joining the Jets in March. He had not played for the Jets this season prior to the shooting due to a shoulder injury.
During his time at Texas, Boyd said that struggles during his childhood – he lost his father and the grandmother who helped raise him – had given him a positive outlook on life.
“I appreciate all the little things,” Boyd said. “Everyone always asks me why I’ve got a smile on my face. It’s because I’m not supposed to be here.”
The Jets have endured a difficult season off the field. In October one of the most popular players in their history, Nick Mangold, died at the age of 41 while seeking a kidney transplant. In November, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died at the age of 24.
