Former San Diego Chargers defensive back Paul Oliver died Tuesday night of a self inflicted gunshot at a residence in Marietta, Ga., Mike Bowman, public information officer for the Cobb County Police Department, said Wednesday.
Bowman said the weapon was a handgun, but he did not know the location of the wound. Death occurred at approximately 6:45 p.m., he said.
Oliver, who played from the Chargers from 2007-2011, was 29.
"Everyone in the Chargers family is sad today after hearing the news about Paul," the team said in a statement. "He was part of our family for five years. At just 29 years old, he had a lifetime in front of him."
The Chargers selected Oliver in the fourth round of the 2007 supplemental draft, and he played in 57 games, with 12 starts. He became a free agent in 2012.
Oliver starred at cornerback for the University of Georgia but was ruled academically ineligible before the 2007 season, and he entered the supplemental draft. He made seven interceptions, 114 tackles and three sacks during his three seasons in Athens.
Georgia coach Mark Richt described Oliver's death as "heartbreaking" on a conference call Wednesday morning.
"I was crushed this morning when I heard it, quite frankly," Richt said. "I haven' t been able to keep it off my mind, to be honest with you. We have to find a way to reach out and help any way we can."
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SOURCE: USA Today
Lindsay H. Jones
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