Ex-NFL QB Anthony Wright Shot in Domestic Incident
The NFL just saw another domestic violence incident hit the news, but this time the player is the victim rather than the alleged perpetrator.
Concord, North Carolina, police reported Monday that former journeyman quarterback Anthony Wright was shot in a dispute with his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend.
Police were called to a home following reports of shots being fired. Wright was found injured and was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent surgery for multiple gunshot wounds.
WSOC-TV in Charlotte reported that Wright was in stable condition Wednesday.
Concord police tweeted about 3 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday that they have arrested a suspect in the shooting.
Arrest made in Anthony Wright shooting. pic.twitter.com/hrqF379Luu
— Concord, NC Police (@ConcordNCPolice) July 3, 2019
William Moses Hooker Jr. has been charged with attempted first-degree murder as well as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, itself a felony that could send Hooker back to jail for 12 to 26 months even if he is acquitted on the shooting charge.
Police said the incident began as a “verbal altercation” as Wright and Hooker argued while Hooker was dropping off his daughter with Wright’s girlfriend.
The incident then escalated to the point where shots were fired.
Wright played his college ball at South Carolina between 1995 and 1998, posting a combined 16-27-1 record under coach Brad Scott, before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent.
He spent nine seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants.
Wright has a Super Bowl ring as a result of that last stint; he threw seven passes in relief of Eli Manning during the Giants’ 2007 season that ended with a win over the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
His best season came in 2003 with the Ravens, where he led a memorable comeback against the Seattle Seahawks. With Baltimore trailing by 17 points in the fourth quarter, Wright rallied his team to a 44-41 overtime victory, throwing for 319 yards and four touchdowns.
Wright finished his NFL career with 3,590 yards, 20 touchdowns and 25 interceptions on 332 of 605 pass attempts.
In 19 pro starts, he posted a record of 8-11.
Hooker was released on $150,000 bond, which did not go over well with a woman claiming to be Wright’s cousin.
Confused as to how the man who tried to murder my cousin got out on bond, but okay.
— Destiny (@xreneeploii) July 3, 2019
Hooker is to appear in court Monday in Cabarrus County.
Attempted first-degree murder is a Class A felony in North Carolina and carries with it a sentence of death or life without parole.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
