An arrest has been made in a string of robberies and burglaries targeting pro athletes in the Seattle area, including a now-retired Seahawks legend who was robbed at gunpoint on his birthday.
In March, former Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman was victim of an armed robbery at his home by multiple individuals while his family was inside.
Now, Seattle police have charged an unnamed 21-year-old man with a felony in connection with that robbery.
The suspect has been hit with three additional felony charges for the burglaries of the homes of three baseball stars.
Charges were filed in connection with the burglaries of the homes of Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo, Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez, and the home of Seattle native and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell.
It isn’t clear why the man has not been named. He is being held in King County jail on a bail of $1million.
Seattle police have arrested a man connected to the robbery of NFL legend Richard Sherman
The suspect has also been hit with felony charges in the burglaries of the homes of Seattle Mariners teammates Julio Rodriguez (L) and Luis Castillo (R)
Police also charged the suspect with the burglary of Seattle native and pitcher Blake Snell
Sherman and his wife Ashley both released security footage in March of the armed men who robbed their home while she and their children were on the property.
‘House being robbed at gun point with my family in it isn’t what anyone wants for a birthday gift,’ Sherman wrote on X alongside two grabs from his security footage. ‘Scary situation that my Wife handled masterfully and kept my kids safe. If anyone has any info that can help find these people please reach out.’
Ashley posted video of the break in on social media, showing three men breaking in through a ground-floor window. As she explained, the couple’s two children were not harmed physically.
‘Thank you to everyone who has checked in. It is truly appreciated,’ Ashley wrote on social media. ‘The kids and I are physically ok. Very shaken up and hope to find these people soon.
‘Waking up to intruders outside your bedroom with a gun is something no one should have to experience,’ she added. ‘Like I said they tried the wrong people! We WILL find you!’
Sherman posted two grabs showing men walking into the home wearing masks and heavy jackets. One of the men is seen brandishing a pistol.
One man from Covington, Washington replied to Sherman’s post at the time, explaining that there had been similar robberies in his neighborhood. Sherman responded by requesting a direct message from the man, while adding that ‘they got 5 homes from what the police told us.’
Beyond that, much still remains unclear, including the exact whereabouts of Sherman’s wife Ashley and their children, Rayden and Avery, during the robbery.
Ashley Sherman posted video of the break in, showing three men coming in through a window
A time stamp on the footage shows the robbers entering the home on Saturday, March 29
One of the robbers is seen holding a pistol in his right hand as he approaches the door
Sherman is seen alongside his wife, Ashley, whom he credits with protecting their kids
Police are investigating the March 29 burglary, according to TMZ.
Sherman, a former Super Bowl winner and one of the elite cornerbacks in recent NFL history, turned 37 on March 30. He currently works as an NFL analyst for Amazon Prime.
Many of the world’s biggest sports stars, including Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, have fallen victims to thieves over the past year.
The worrying trend has seen criminals target the mansions and possessions of players from across the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS and college sports – sometimes during games.
At the end of last year, the FBI sent a warning out to professional sports leagues about crime organizations targeting professional athletes.
Cops have launched a multi-state investigation into the spate of robberies, many of which – according to the authorities – are the work of a sophisticated crime ring.
To be clear, there is no public proof that the men who robbed Sherman and his family are tied to the other robberies in various parts of the country.
