Justice Delayed : The Murder of Bryan Pata and the Teammate Accused 15 Years Later

Pata's fatal shooting in 2006 and Jones' subsequent charge for his murder fifteen years later.

Bryan Sidney Pata’s story was supposed to be one of triumph. The 22-year-old defensive lineman for the University of Miami Hurricanes was poised to enter the NFL, already considered a likely second or third-round draft pick. He had bought the suit he planned to wear on draft night, a symbol of a future he promised would provide stability for his Haitian-American family. His mother, Jeanette, said her son had vowed to buy her a home once he signed his contract.

That dream ended violently on November 7, 2006. After football practice, Bryan dropped off his younger teammates before returning to his apartment complex, the Colony Apartments, in Kendall. He parked his black Infiniti SUV around 7 p.m. Just two minutes later, neighbors reported hearing a single gunshot. Bryan’s girlfriend, Jada Brody, ran downstairs to find him collapsed by his car. His roommate, Dwayne Hendricks, tried CPR, but it was too late. Bryan was pronounced dead within minutes.

What stunned investigators was what wasn’t taken. Bryan’s wallet containing $900 cash, his cell phone, and his car keys were all left behind. Detectives quickly realized this was not a robbery gone wrong; it was a targeted killing.

Suspicion soon fell on one of Bryan’s own teammates, defensive back Rashaun Travon Jones. Jones, once a top recruit, had struggled at Miami and had been suspended multiple times, including on the very day Bryan was killed after failing a drug test. Witnesses recalled years of conflict between the two men.

Teammates told investigators about a violent dorm fight in 2004 where Bryan overpowered Jones, leading Jones to allegedly threaten, “Boy, you might as well go ahead and clip up.” Bryan later confided in his brothers Edwin and Pierre that Jones had threatened to shoot him in the head. Pierre testified that Bryan said Jones even threatened to shoot him in his NFL draft suit. The rivalry also carried personal undertones; Jones had previously dated Bryan’s girlfriend, fueling tensions between the two.

Investigators also uncovered crucial evidence that pointed to Jones. An eyewitness, Paul Conner, a retired University of Miami instructor, said he heard the shot that night and saw a man jogging away from the scene. In 2007, Conner picked Jones out of a photo lineup with “90% certainty.” He identified him again in 2020. Police also obtained cell phone records showing Jones was not at home, as he told investigators, but instead in the vicinity of the murder scene around the time of the shooting. Teammates had also reported seeing Jones with a revolver matching the caliber of the bullet that killed Bryan.

Despite the evidence, no arrest came for 15 years. Detectives pursued dozens of other leads, from a fight over expensive car rims to alleged gang threats, even tips from a psychic. ESPN later revealed that key evidence had been mishandled or lost, including lead sheets listing suspects and Bryan’s student disciplinary file. Investigators admitted under oath that there was no “new” evidence in 2021, only the same pieces that had been overlooked for years.

Under mounting pressure, Miami-Dade police finally arrested Jones in August 2021 at his home in Ocala, Florida. He was charged with second-degree murder with a deadly weapon. Jones pleaded not guilty and has remained in custody awaiting trial. His defense has argued that prosecutors lack a murder weapon, DNA evidence, or reliable witnesses, pointing to inconsistencies and memory lapses over the 15-year delay.

The family of Bryan Pata has lived in agony. His mother, Jeanette, still visits his grave every November 7, bringing flowers and tears. His brothers have testified in hearings and vowed to see justice carried through. In 2018, the family endured another heartbreak when Bryan’s tomb was desecrated, forcing them to relocate his remains.

Bryan Pata remains frozen in time at 22, his NFL dream stolen on the cusp of reality. His former teammate now faces the possibility of life in prison, and a Miami jury may finally decide if justice delayed can still be justice delivered.