Dallas Cowboys’ Keith Davis Shot in Freeway Attack

By Mark Hoerrner

It’s as unlikely as being struck twice by lightning, but Dallas Cowboys special team player Keith Davis has been shot for the second time in just three years. Davis, who was driving his candy-apple red Chevrolet Impala at the time, suffered wounds to the head and right leg from the attack, which took place early Sunday morning.

Davis is recovering at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas with only minor wounds, though doctors have been insistent on closely monitoring Davis’ head wound. A scan of the player’s brain indicated that it was only bruised, and Davis was listed in stable condition, despite the fact that he still has a bullet lodged in his right thigh.

"My head has been leaking, but that's okay," he told the Dallas Morning News. "I've got a big head, and my braids still look good. As soon as I realized I got hit, I started applying pressure to the spot. I was a kinesiology major in college. I guess I learned something from all of those courses."

Davis and a friend were headed west on Interstate 635 near the Dallas North Tollway about 5 a.m. Sunday. He told police that he and a friend had been in Shreveport, La., over the weekend visiting friends and that he was on his way home to change and then head to church.

A vehicle with dark-tinted windows pulled up beside the car, Davis said, and opened fire. A volley of bullets shattered the rear window, tore apart the interior door panel and riddled the back seat. Davis, who was driving at the time of the attack, pulled over and allowed his passenger to take control of the vehicle and get him to the nearest hospital. After initial treatment, he transferred to Baylor.

Currently, police are only speculating at the motive behind the shooting. Lt. Rick Watson of the Dallas Police Department offered that carjacking may have been the impetus for the attack but had no conclusive evidence other than the fact that Davis was driving a "pretty nice car."

Davis, 27, shined in 2005 as a special teams player where he had 68 tackles, 16 of which were during times on special teams and included a forced fumble. He started in 15 games last season and was recently signed to a $3 million contract for two years. His base salary is reportedly $825,000.

This isn’t the first time Davis has been unable to dodge a bullet. In a 2003 altercation outside a Dallas strip club, he was hit in the elbow and the hip after nearly being run over by a car. Davis claims he was honorably defending his girlfriend who was involved in a dispute at the nightclub.

Davis is confident he’ll start with the other players at the upcoming training camp, though the Cowboys officially declined to comment on his injuries.