Former Alabama running back Santonio Beard died from a gunshot wound Friday in Lithonia, DeKalb County Police Department officials in Georgia said.
According to The Tennessean, officers responded to a call and found Beard and another man suffering from gunshot wounds at 8:59 p.m. Friday.
Beard, 41, died on the scene.
No arrests have been made.
Beard is most remembered for his five touchdowns in a 42-7 win over Ole Miss at Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2002.
“Wow, I can’t believe this,” Beard said after the game. “I think once I get home and watch the game or see the highlights on ESPN, I’ll probably believe it then. I’m still in shock.”
The five rushing scores by the junior tied Shaun Alexander’s record set in 1998. Beard rushed for 633 yards and four touchdowns in 2001. He followed that season with an 881-yard, 12-touchdown performance in 2002.
Among his highlights was his 199-yard performance in Alabama’s 31-7 victory over Auburn in the 2001 Iron Bowl.
Beard, who played at Alabama from 2000-02, was recruited by Mike DuBose but played under coach Dennis Franchione. He finished his Alabama career 1,526 total yards and 16 touchdowns.
Beard, in 2013, was jailed in Tuscaloosa County on charges of violating his probation in a previous drug case.
He was placed on delinquent status in 2012 for violating his four-year probation that began in September 2011 for a 2009 drug case. Beard, who was accused of selling cocaine to undercover police officer three times before his arrest in October 2009, pleaded guilty to unlawful distribution of a controlled substance in 2010.
Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.