This booking photo provided by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department shows former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III following his arrest Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Ruggs is facing felony charges relating to a fiery vehicle crash early Tuesday in Las Vegas that left a woman dead and Ruggs and his female passenger injured. (Clark County Detention Center via AP)
The Associated Press
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) - Derek Carr said Henry Ruggs III needs to be loved right now and needs to know he has people in his corner.
'œAnd if no one else will do it, I'll do it,'ť the Las Vegas quarterback said Wednesday.
Raiders interim coach Rich Bisaccia said it's important to keep the focus on the fact 23-year-old Tina O. Tintor was killed Tuesday morning in a fiery crash involving Ruggs, the 22-year-old receiver who was cut by the team Tuesday night.
'œWe want to express our sincere condolences to the victim's family,'ť Bisaccia said from a prepared statement. 'œWe're deeply saddened for everyone affected. Especially the victim's family.'ť
Prosecutors said Ruggs was driving at 156 mph with a blood-alcohol content twice Nevada's legal limit before his Chevrolet Corvette slammed into the rear of Tintor's vehicle that burned, killing her. Ruggs faces felony charges of driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death and reckless driving.
'œWe love Henry Ruggs, and want him to know that,'ť Bisaccia added. 'œIt's a terrible lapse in judgment, of the most horrific kind. It's something that he will have to live with the rest of his life. The gravity of the situation is not lost on anyone here and we understand and respect the loss of life.'ť
Ruggs and passenger Kiara Je'nai Kilgo-Washington were injured.
The Raiders didn't wait for courts to act and announced Ruggs' release in a one-sentence statement Tuesday night. After struggling through his rookie season, the former Alabama star had emerged as one of Carr's favorite targets, hauling in 24 passes for a team-high 469 yards and two touchdowns.
'œMy emotions have been on a roller coaster so to speak this year,'ť Carr said. 'œMy heart goes out so much. I'll try to say it with a straight face because I've already been emotional about every bit of this. But to the family, to all the families involved, no one ever wants to see this, whether it's a football player or not, you never want to see something like this happen. It broke my wife and I's heart, honestly.'ť
The crash came three weeks after Jon Gruden resigned as coach over emails he sent before being hired by the team in 2018.
Coming off a bye week, the Raiders are preparing to play Sunday at the New York Giants.
'œFootball is secondary when something like this happens. We're talking about lives, a lot of different lives in a lot of different situations,'ť Carr said. 'œFor us, from a football aspect, our mindset is we're going to be ready to play. That's for sure.'ť
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Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III makes an initial appearance in Las Vegas Justice Court in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. Ruggs is facing charges relating to a fiery vehicle crash early Tuesday in Las Vegas that left a woman dead and Ruggs and his female passenger injured. Photo is taken through a glass window. The team released Ruggs just hours after the crash. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP, Pool)
The Associated Press
A Chevrolet Corvette owned by Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III is shown on a flatbed truck after a fatal crash on South Rainbow Boulevard between Tropicana Avenue and Flamingo Road in Las Vegas Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Ruggs is facing a driving under the influence charge after a fiery vehicle crash early Tuesday in Las Vegas that left a woman dead and Ruggs and his female passenger injured, authorities said. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
The Associated Press
Las Vegas Metro Police investigators take measurements at the scene of a fatal crash on South Rainbow Boulevard between Tropicana Avenue and Flamingo Road in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III is facing a driving under the influence charge after a fiery vehicle crash early Tuesday in Las Vegas that left a woman dead and Ruggs and his female passenger injured, authorities said. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
The Associated Press
A Chevrolet Corvette is shown at the scene of a fatal crash on South Rainbow Boulevard between Tropicana Avenue and Flamingo Road in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Nov. 02, 2021. Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III is facing a driving under the influence charge after a fiery vehicle crash early Tuesday in Las Vegas that left a woman dead and Ruggs and his female passenger injured, authorities said. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
The Associated Press
Las Vegas Metro Police investigators work at the scene of a fatal crash Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, in Las Vegas. Police in Las Vegas say Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was involved in the fiery vehicle crash early Tuesday that left a woman dead and Ruggs and his female passenger injured. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
The Associated Press
FILE - Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III in action against the Denver Broncos during an NFL football game, Oct. 17, 2021, in Denver. Police in Las Vegas said Ruggs is facing a driving under the influence charge after a fiery vehicle crash early Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, that left a woman dead and Ruggs and his female passenger injured. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III walks on the field before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Oct. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas. Police in Las Vegas said Ruggs is facing a driving under the influence charge after a fiery vehicle crash early Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, that left a woman dead and Ruggs and his female passenger injured. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
The Associated Press