The murder trial of former New York Giants wide receiver Travis Rudolph was scheduled to begin on Friday in Palm Beach County, Fla., but has been pushed to May.
Rudolph was arrested in April of 2021 and charged with first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder following a shooting at a Florida residence.
The incident occurred after Rudolph and his then-girlfriend, Dominique Jones, got into an argument. Hours later, a group of four men showed up at his family’s Lake Park residence and confronted Rudolph, who claims one then brandished a firearm and told him he was going to “die.”
Claiming he feared for his life, Rudolph retreated into the home, grabbed a rifle, and then fired at the men who police claim were driving away from the residence at the time. After firing nearly 40 rounds, Sebastion Jean-Jacques was left deceased.
Rudolph attempted to invoke Florida’s “stand your ground” law but that was rejected by Circuit Judge Jeffrey Gillen.
Rudolph signed with the Giants as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Florida State in 2017. In seven games (one start) with Big Blue, Rudolph had eight receptions for 101 yards.
He remained with the team until September 2018, when he was released as a part of final cuts.
Prior to his time with the Giants, Rudolph made international headlines when Florida State players visited Montford Middle School in Tallahassee to eat lunch with some of the students. Rudolph saw an autistic boy, Bo Paske, eating lunch alone, so he sat with him and the story immediately went viral.
“I saw him by himself and I was just like, ‘Yo, can I have a seat with and eat with you?'” said Rudolph in the video. “We just started off having a good conversation.”
Paske’s mother later expressed her gratitude for Rudolph on Facebook.
I’m not sure what exactly made this incredibly kind man share a lunch table with my son, but I’m happy to say that it will not soon be forgotten. This is one day I didn’t have to worry if my sweet boy ate lunch alone, because he sat across from someone who is a hero in many eyes. Travis Rudolph thank you so much, you made this momma exceedingly happy, and have made us fans for life!
Rudolph was released on $160,000 cash bond in April of 2021 and remains on house arrest as he awaits trial.
