Ex-NFL player Justin Bannan 'shoots woman at his office before telling cops the Russian mob is after him as he is found with two loaded guns and a rolled $20 bill with cocaine residue'

  • Ex-NFL player Justin Bannan faces attempted murder and assault charges after shooting a woman at his office and telling police the Russian mafia was after him
  • Authorities say Bannan shot a 36-year-old woman in the arm with a handgun at Black Lab Sports, a venture capital firm in Boulder, Colorado that he co-founded
  • Cops told reporters the shooting appeared to be 'random,' and the victim said she had no relationship with the shooter, whom she identified as Bannan
  • Bannan was arrested with two loaded handguns and an extra magazine. Police also found a manila envelope containing a rolled up $20 bill with cocaine residue
  • The 40-year-old ex-Denver Bronco is facing an attempted first-degree murder charge, two first-degree assault charges and a first-degree burglary charge
  • As he was being driven to the police station, Bannan told the officers he suffered from hydrocephalus, a disorder in which fluid builds up in brain cavities
  • Bannan said he got rid of his cell phone because someone was tracking him 

Ex-NFL defensive lineman Justin Bannan is facing attempted murder and assault charges after shooting a woman at his office and telling police the Russian mafia was after him

Ex-NFL defensive lineman Justin Bannan is facing attempted murder and assault charges after shooting a woman at his office and telling police the Russian mafia was after him

Former NFL defensive lineman Justin Bannan faces attempted murder and assault charges after shooting a woman at his Colorado office and telling police the Russian mafia was after him. 

Authorities say Bannan shot a 36-year-old woman in the arm with a handgun at Black Lab Sports, a venture capital firm in Boulder, Colorado that he co-founded. She was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. 

The woman told police she was opening an unlocked door to a therapy room on the premises and was immediately shot by Bannan in the shoulder.

A police spokeswoman told reporters the shooting appeared to be 'random,' and the victim said she had no relationship with the shooter. Bannan and the woman apparently worked in the same building. 

Later he told police she 'did not deserve that [because] she was a good person,' adding that he did not intend to shoot her. 

The 40-year-old Bannan was arrested at the scene carrying a bag containing two loaded handguns and an extra magazine. Police also found a manila envelope containing a rolled up $20 bill that was later found to have cocaine residue, according to The Denver Channel

Former NFL and University of Colorado Boulder lineman Justin Bannan appears in court at the Boulder County Jail on Thursday after being arrested for attempted murder and assault

Former NFL and University of Colorado Boulder lineman Justin Bannan appears in court at the Boulder County Jail on Thursday after being arrested for attempted murder and assault

He is charged with suspicion of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault with extreme indifference, first-degree assault with intent to cause serious bodily injury and first-degree burglary, according to Boulder police. Bannan remains in custody and is awaiting a bond hearing. 

Bannan played 12 seasons in the NFL (2002-13) with the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Broncos, St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions

Bannan played 12 seasons in the NFL (2002-13) with the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Broncos, St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions

As he was being driven to the police station, Bannan told the officers he suffered from hydrocephalus, a disorder in which fluid builds up in brain cavities. He then told police he got rid of his cell phone because someone was using it to track him, adding that he had a 'significant story' to tell. 

'Bannan told police he did not mean to shoot the woman, and that he was hiding because the Russian Mafia was after him and tracking his cellphone,' according to the Boulder Daily Camera.

As police explained in the affidavit, Bannan sweated 'profusely' during his interrogation.      

Bannan played 12 seasons in the NFL (2002-13) with the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions. Prior to that he was a star defensive lineman with at the University of Colorado Boulder.   

A fifth-round pick in 2002, Bannan appeared in 163 games (72 starts) and tallied 311 tackles, 6.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.

Authorities say Bannan shot a 36-year-old woman in the arm with a handgun at Black Lab Sports, a venture capital firm in Boulder, Colorado that he co-founded. She was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries

Authorities say Bannan shot a 36-year-old woman in the arm with a handgun at Black Lab Sports, a venture capital firm in Boulder, Colorado that he co-founded. She was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries