Written by IndyStarSports at The Indianapolis Star.com
Former Indianapolis Colts running back Zurlon Tipton died after he accidentally shot himself Tuesday morning at a Michigan car dealership. He was reaching into his vehicle to get a bag containing two handguns when one discharged, hitting him in the stomach.
The Roseville, Mich., police department said it received notification from St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit that the 26-year-old died from his injuries after the incident about 9:30 a.m. in a service bay at the car dealership.
An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.
Police Chief James Berlin said the handgun was a .45-caliber semi-automatic that belonged to Tipton, who had a concealed pistol license. Berlin said both guns were registered to Tipton.
Tipton brought his Jeep to the dealership to be serviced. He was placing personal belongings in the bag and while doing so, one of the handguns inside the bag discharged, with a round striking him, police said in a release. Police said in the release that Tipton was talking at the time he was transported to the hospital.
No one else was hurt, police said.
The Colts signed Tipton after the 2014 draft as an undrafted free agent, the longest of long shots. But he went on to make it to the active roster for six games during that regular season before contributing 18 carries during the team’s three postseason games (including 40 rushing yards in a wild-card game win over the Cincinnati Bengals).
Tipton spent another 10 games on the roster in 2015, playing mostly on special teams.
All the while, he was among the most popular players in the locker room, where he could be found routinely making jokes about anyone within shouting distance.
Fellow running back Frank Gore, who got to know Tipton during his first season with the Colts last season, was struggling with the news Tuesday afternoon.
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