Former Seattle Seahawks safety Rickey Thenarse is recovering after being shot in the stomach in South Los Angeles. The incident occurred on Friday, sending the ex-Nebraska standout into emergency surgery. Thankfully, he received medical attention quickly and is expected to be okay.
The shooting happened following an alleged dispute involving a love triangle. According to law enforcement sources, Rickey Thenarse was shot amid tensions between his girlfriend and the father of her child. The situation appears to have come to a head last week, though exactly what triggered the violence remains unclear.
Two people, a man and a woman, were spotted fleeing the scene in a black SUV. No arrests have been made. Detectives continue investigating the case, and no suspect descriptions have been publicly released beyond the vehicle details.
Thenarse’s condition has stabilized after surgery. Family and friends have not yet released a formal statement, but those close to the former athlete say he is alert and expected to make a full recovery.
Thenarse arrived at Nebraska as a four-star recruit. He played for the Cornhuskers from 2006 to 2010, appearing in 51 games. Early in his college career, he made his name on special teams, winning the unit’s MVP award in both 2006 and 2007. As an upperclassman, his role expanded significantly on defense.
He went undrafted in 2011 before signing with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent. Thenarse spent training camp with the team, appeared in three preseason games, and recorded one tackle. He was released during the team’s final roster cuts that August, marking the end of his brief NFL career.
Detectives are actively searching for the black SUV and the two individuals inside. Investigators are also interviewing witnesses who may have seen the altercation before gunfire erupted. The girlfriend and the father of her child are expected to be questioned as the love triangle dispute remains central to the case.
For Thenarse, the focus now is on recovery. A football career that ended quietly more than a decade ago has now been overshadowed by a single violent moment in South LA. The coming days will determine whether justice follows.
