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Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller played in Saturday's 30-7 loss to the Washington Redskins, but it's still unclear if he heard the disturbing news about one of his family members before the game. (EDIT: Spiller knew before the game.) Spiller's step-grandfather was identified as the man who killed two people and wounded two others before taking his own life on Saturday.
The alleged shooter, Hubert Allen, Jr., was married to Spiller's grandmother, Nattie Pearl Allen, per Tim Graham of The Buffalo News. According to Graham, the Allens helped Spiller's single mother raise the future star running back, including taking him to school every day while his mother worked nights. Spiller would spend the night with the Allens, as well.
A motive is not known at this time, but the targets of the gunshots were former business associates of Allen's. Our thoughts go out to Spiller as he deals with what must be a very troubling situation.
Head coach Doug Marrone said during his press conference that he did not know about the incident before the game. Senior VP of Communications Scott Berchtold pulled Marrone aside before he met with the press following the game to inform him.