Police seek Williams’ killer

Drive-by-shooting baffles Denver community

? Police asked for help finding Darrent Williams’ killer Tuesday as coaches and teammates gathered at Broncos headquarters to honor the 24-year-old player gunned down after a New Year’s Eve party.

“Darrent was a guy that was always upbeat, always had a smile and he was a fierce competitor,” said Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, fighting back tears.

Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting early Monday, hours after the Broncos were eliminated from playoff contention.

“We’re working around the clock on this investigation,” police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. “It’s a situation where anyone who knows what happened or has any information, we’d love to hear.”

Jackson said the police had not identified any suspects, and were unsure of the nature of the taunts that they believe sparked an altercation at a night club before the shooting that also wounded two other people. Police were searching for a white Suburban or Tahoe with dark-tinted windows.

Williams sustained a single gunshot wound to the neck, according to Robert Whitmore, chief medical examiner in the county coroner’s office.

The team will hold a private memorial today at Bronco headquarters so that Williams’ teammates can tell his family what he meant to them. The team also will fly together to Fort Worth, Texas, for Williams’ funeral on Saturday.

“He’s in a better place right now,” Shanahan said, choking up at a news conference. “It’s hard to understand right now. He’s a good man. He’s up in heaven right now.”

Receiver Javon Walker was with Williams in the limousine when he was killed and was one of several Broncos who met with professional counselors the team brought in.

“He just went through a tragic experience,” Shanahan said. “A lot of times when somebody has that happen to them, they wonder why it (wasn’t them). That’s just human nature and obviously the counselors are talking with him about that. It’s a process. It takes some time.”

Instead of the usual locker clean out Tuesday, the team gathered to cope with Williams’ death.

“Today wasn’t about football or the offseason or the future,” safety Nick Ferguson said. “Today was to grieve and remember the good things about him.”