Former Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Bryan Pata was shot and killed outside his apartment in Kendall, Florida, on November 7, 2006.
The case of Bryan Pata’s death remained unsolved for nearly 15 years until his former teammate, Rashaun Jones, was arrested in August 2021.
According to reports, Jones and Pata had a troubled history that included physical fights and long-standing tension.
(2006) Miami Hurricanes gathered at midfield in prayer for their slain teammate, Bryan Pata, who had been gunned down and killed. 15 years later, his teammate Rashaun Jones (Number 38 on the left) was charged with his m*urder. pic.twitter.com/14mat0vLxU
— Mr Shelby (@mrshelby101) August 26, 2025
In 2004, Jones was even suspended from the Hurricanes after a fight with Pata. Several teammates later recalled that Jones had threatened Bryan.
Late Miami Hurricanes Defensive Lineman Bryan Pata’s Brothers Recall Their Confessions, Honoring Their Brother’s Legacy!
Off the field, Bryan Pata was deeply connected to his family, especially his mother and brothers, who supported him throughout his football journey.
Bryan’s two brothers, Edwin Pata and Pierre “Ed” Pata, were among the few who testified against Jones during the court proceedings.
At the time of court proceedings, Edwin recalled that Bryan once told him Jones had threatened to shoot him in the head months before his death.
As Edwin Pata’s testimony about what Pata told him, Jones has said;
“I could burn you in the head”
At the time, Edwin did not realize the seriousness of the threat, thinking it might just be words spoken in anger.
Later, his brother Pierre added that Bryan said Jones had threatened to shoot him “in his NFL draft suit,” which made the threat even more personal.
Both brothers now look back on those warnings as Bryan’s “final confession” of the danger he felt.
In addition to Bryan’s two brothers, his teammate Howell said that he saw a small revolver that Jones had in a dorm room at another time, pointed (though he says Jones said he was “playing”).
According to court records and reporting, one of the neighbourhood also claim Rashaun Jones, a man who left the scene right after the shooting on November 7, 2006.
Initially, Jhone was denying the murder, saying “I had nothing to do with his dying.”, but nearly 15 years after the investigation, Jones was arrested under second-degree murder charges.
Since Bryan’s murder in 2006, his brothers have carried the weight of his memory. One of his brothers, Edwin, even worked with recruits at the University of Miami, honoring Bryan’s legacy.
During recruiting events, he would often share stories about his brother’s time at the university. He said:
“If there’s anybody who can tell a player why Miami is the right place for them, it’s me. What happened to Bryan had nothing to do with the University of Miami. Selling this place, a place he was passionate about, a place our family is passionate about, is no problem. This is what he would want me to be doing. We want people here who were like Bryan. We want people who love this school, who love this city, who want to represent the city of Miami. That’s who he was. That’s who we want. We’ll recruit you, we’ll appreciate you, we’ll want you to come here, but we want to know that you want to be here like my brother, who was passionate about getting this program back to what it was. That’s why I’m here, to find those guys.”
It has been nearly 20 years since the death of Bryan Pata, but his memory and legacy still remain with his brothers and loved ones.
In Case You Don’t Know
- Bryan Pata’s older brother, Edwin, is now working as an offensive linecoach in FIU Football.
- Before becoming a coach, Edwin served as a graduate associate at FIU Panthers football.
