HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 05: Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons makes a catch against Logan Ryan #26 of the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Four of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones’ relatives were injured in a shootout Sunday after a heated confrontation set off a lethal chain of events in an Alabama trailer park.
Baldwin County Sheriff Hoss Mack said Jermain Dickerson, Tamarius Dickerson, and Royald Jones confronted Jahlen Baker at gunpoint in Magnolia Springs, Alabama.
The Dickersons are Royald Jones’ cousin, and Baker is their half-brother. Sheriff Mack said Julio Jones is either an uncle or cousin to all of the men.
Baker was shot in the abdomen, while the Dickerson brothers and Royald Jones were injured when Baker’s roommate returned fire. Baker, Jones and Tamarius Dickerson were all brought to the hospital in critical condition, but Jones and Dickerson are now stable.
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Sheriff Mack noted that their motive was unclear and it isn’t yet known why the men confronted Baker. Charges are forthcoming and could include a murder charge if Baker dies as a result of his injuries.
Baker was still in critical condition while Jermain Dickerson, 22, had been released from a hospital and Tamarius Dickerson, 23, and Jones, 20, were being treated at a hospital in Mobile, and are believed to be stable.
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Before practice Tuesday, Jones quickly addressed the situation, calling it a “family matter.”
“This is football. That’s private,” Jones added. “I never left stuff off the field affect me on the field. I’ve been doing it for so long. Family issues and things like that, my family is good. Everybody is good. I can come out here and play. Do what I need to do and take care of business.”
Jones was born and raised in Foley, Alabama and attended the University of Alabama for three seasons before the Falcons selected him with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.
This is not the first time one of Jones’ relatives has been a victim of a crime. In 2014, Jones’ 31-year-old brother, Phillip Jones, was shot in the arm in Gulf Shores.
Jones and the Falcons (4-6) will head to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Saints (9-1) for an epic NFC South Thanksgiving night showdown. This game will air on NBC at 8:20 p.m. EST from Louisiana’s Mercedez-Benz Superdome.
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