McNair Shooting: Tuesday Update

((HT: Tennessean/Howard, Schrade, Echegaray, Smietana))

Here's your highlights from the Tuesday analysis on the McNair murder and Kazemi shooting from Saturday:

Kazemi's family is struggling with the news that she bought the gun, and the likelihood of an announcement that Kazemi's death was a suicide.

During a recent interview, her nephew Farzin Abdi said that Kazemi had not owned a gun. He had suggested to Kazemi that — if she felt unsafe when she was alone — she purchase a gun when she turned 21.

"I hope they find the truth," Abdi said. "I just don't know if this is everything as they say."

Metro Police Department Spokesman Don Aaron said detectives were concerned about the length of time it took McNair's friend to call police once he discovered the bodies. Wayne Neeley, who rented the condo with McNair, got there before 1 p.m. Saturday, but police weren't called until another friend arrived at 1:35 p.m.

McNair and Kazemi had been dead for several hours by the time their bodies were found, police said. Aaron said they did not believe the bodies were moved. When asked if other evidence may have been moved, he said he couldn't comment.

Police and emergency communications officials have declined to release the tape of that 911 call, citing the ongoing investigation.

On Monday afternoon, the condo had been processed by detectives, but inside it still looked like a crime scene. The building's owner allowed The Tennessean to view the apartment once police released the unit to him.

What was left of the couch was bloodstained, but much of it had been cut up during the evidence- gathering process. A large bloodstain remained on the carpet in front of the couch.

Two pieces of drywall behind the couch had been cut out for processing at the crime lab. Penciled near the missing chunks of wall were the words "strike mark #1," "strike mark #2" and "stain #1" marking apparent bullet holes and a bloodstain.

Fingerprint dust could be seen on doors throughout the apartment, including the refrigerator.

About a dozen liquor bottles sat in a corner on the kitchen counter. Attached to the counter was a piece of paper taped like a pocket with a $20 bill sticking out. Written on the note were the words "Never Broke."

The dwelling did not have any photographs or other personal touches. It had the depersonalized feel of a vacation spot timeshare. There was a Christmas tin sitting near the kitchen, addressed to Wayne and Steve. A pile of men's white sneakers lay in the corner of the kitchen. The sound of radio music could be heard from an upstairs bedroom.

Mechelle McNair has not spoken publicly about the death. Steve McNair had four sons.

Kazemi's family has said she believed McNair was in the process of divorcing his wife when they met at her job at Dave & Buster's several months ago and began dating. There is no record of divorce filings for the couple.

Bishop Joseph Walker, the pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, said he had no indication there was trouble in the McNairs' marriage. When they came to service, they came together. They had not been to see him for counseling.

"Obviously, it's very devastating for Mechelle and their children, and devastating to our church, because of the man we know Steve to be," Walker said.

The circumstances, Walker said, are not for us to judge.

"People forget that there were two lives lost here, that two families are affected," Walker said. "It's not time to demonize anyone."

McNair, who led the Tennessee Titans to their only Super Bowl appearance in 1999, had two arrests in Nashville. He was arrested on a DUI charge in 2003 that was later dismissed, and in 2007, he was arrested on an owner-operator DUI because his brother was charged with drinking and driving in his car while McNair was a passenger.

There was no cause to arrest McNair when he was a passenger during Kazemi's DUI stop on July 2 because Kazemi was a co-owner of the Cadillac Escalade and bore the responsibility, Aaron said.

Kazemi was driving 54 mph in a 30-mph zone and was stopped at Broadway near 12th Avenue, according to court records. She told police she was not drunk, but high. She later said it had been eight hours since she had drunk any alcohol. The court records don't mention that McNair and a second passenger were in the car.

Although McNair was an owner, police did follow procedure when they released McNair, said Nashville criminal defense lawyer Nathan Moore.

"Absolutely, they did the right thing," Moore said of the officers' letting McNair take a cab. "He had no legal obligation keeping her from driving the SUV. It was registered in both their names."

Officer Shawn Taylor, who stopped Kazemi, also was the officer who arrested McNair in 2003. The charges were dismissed and expunged.

Taylor, however, was disciplined six years ago for violating department rules by repeatedly asking McNair to take a breath test after he refused. Police also said Taylor violated departmental rules then by taking home copies of DUI arrest tapes, including one of McNair.

There's no indication McNair was given a pass in the Thursday traffic stop though, Aaron said.

"The officer even said to Ms. Kazemi that if the Escalade was registered solely to McNair, he would likely have been in the same situation as she," Aaron said.

A public visitation for McNair is set for 3:45-6:45 p.m. Thursday at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Whites Creek. A memorial service is at 7 p.m. Kazemi's family is still looking for a funeral home.

FOSG Heather Cook has a look at the Jeff Fisher press conference from Monday and catches up with Steve brothers, Fred and Tim, as they reflect on the family's loss and Steve's son Junior's senior season in high school...
((HT: WDAM-TV/Hattiesburg))