A former NFL hopeful is lucky to be alive after a terrifying shooting in South Los Angeles that left him bleeding from a stomach wound and fighting for survival.
Rickey Thenarse was rushed into emergency surgery Friday afternoon after being shot during what sources describe as a heated and chaotic confrontation. The incident unfolded in broad daylight, sending shockwaves through the neighborhood.
According to reports from TMZ, Thenarse is expected to recover, but the circumstances leading up to the shooting paint a far more disturbing picture.
Sources say the violence may have stemmed from a personal dispute involving Thenarse, his girlfriend, and the father of her child. What exactly triggered the gunfire remains unclear—but what followed was pure chaos.
Witnesses told investigators that a man and woman were seen fleeing the scene in a black SUV moments before Thenarse was transported to a nearby hospital. As of now, no arrests have been made, and police are still working to piece together what led to the shooting.
Authorities have yet to release official details, and Los Angeles Police Department has not confirmed whether any suspects have been identified.
While Thenarse never played a regular-season snap in the NFL, his football journey once showed serious promise. After going undrafted in 2011, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks and appeared in preseason action before being cut during final roster decisions.
Before that, he was a standout at the Nebraska Cornhuskers, where he built a reputation as a gritty, hard-working player. A former four-star recruit, Thenarse battled injuries but still managed to carve out a solid college career, tallying 34 tackles, an interception, and a fumble across his time with the program.
He was also honored with Nebraska’s Tom Novak Award—given to players who overcome adversity and leave a lasting mark on the team.
Now, that same resilience may be what saves his life.
As detectives continue their investigation, one question looms large: was this a targeted act—or a dispute that spiraled violently out of control?
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