Bryan Pata was considered a likable teammate at the University of Miami in Florida. An excellent player who was a defensive lineman, he wore the number 95 while he majored in Criminology. On November 7th, 2006, the nearly six foot four and nearly 300 hundred pound football star was shot to death in the parking lot of the gated community in the suburban Kendall, which was less than five miles from campus . The 22 year old had left football practice just minutes before, witnesses reported that when he arrived he had an argument with a man and was shot several times. Pata’s girlfriend who lived with him was inside the apartment when Pata was shot, ran out and called 911.There were theories as to who killed him. One involved members of another football team Florida International University who had a prior brawl with University of Miami Hurricane Football players. Other rumors pointed to jealous people from the poor inner city area of Miami where Pata had grown up due to a flashy lifestyle. In the end, a prime suspect was identified and arrested in another state on gun charges. That individual has been looked at in other homicides and had a relative that knew Bryan Pata very well.
UPDATE: 11-6-2020. ESPN has done an excellent article on the case. There are several persons of interest in this case, ranging from a former teammate, to a relative of his ex-girlfriend, gang members to people who had business dealings with Pata. https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/30204203/killed-miami-hurricanes-football-player-bryan-pata
The case remains cold though and if you have information about the murder of Bryan Pata, call Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at (305) 471-TIPS (8477) or you can call Law Enforcement at 305-471-TIPS.
UPDATE: Thirty five year old Rashaun Jones a former teammate of Pata was arrested for his murder. Pata had been romantically involved with the ex-girlfriend of Jones. And the two had a fight prior to his murder in which Pata got the better of Jones. Jones had been a longtime suspect in the case. https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article253589064.html
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