Documents: Grand Jury indicts man in connection with death of former Arizona Rattlers football player

Suspect in 2019 deadly shooting indicted by Grand Jury

Christopher Verland Ayers III is accused of First Degree Murder, Unlawful Flight From Law Enforcement Vehicle, and two counts of Misconduct Involving Weapons in connection with the shooting death of former Arizona Rattlers football player Lance McDowdell. McDowdell was 25 at the time of his death. FOX 10's Justin Lum reports.

PHOENIX - Court documents show a Grand Jury in Maricopa County has indicted a man in connection with a shooting that killed a former Arizona Rattlers football player in December 2019.

Victim was Rattlers defensive lineman at one point

According to news reports at the time, the shooting happened at an apartment complex near 44th Street and Thomas Road. The victim, identified as 25-year-old Lance McDowdell, was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

McDowdell was a defensive lineman for the Rattlers. At the time of his death, officials with the indoor football team released a statement that said McDowdell represented the organization "with pride and dedication." Team officials said McDowdell was not on the roster at the time of the shooting.

"So, he had made it out and he’s staying and living in Arizona, and to think it would happen outside there where people just don’t know you," said Cedeño Patrick, McDowdell's cousin who became his mentor, coach and a father figure of sorts, at the time of McDowdell's shooting death.

Suspect indicted on four counts

Christopher Verland Ayers III

The suspect, identified by police as Christopher Verland Ayers, III, was arrested in 2020. At the time news of his arrest was made public, Ayers was 28. He is now 30 years old.

At the time of his arrest, police officials said that Ayers was jailed on unrelated offenses when investigators developed probable cause to link him to McDowdell's death.

According to court documents, Ayers has been indicted on First Degree Murder, Unlawful Flight From Law Enforcement Vehicle, and two counts of Misconduct Involving Weapons. The court documents are dated June 29, 2021.

Victim's mother reacts

McDowdell's family members have received news of Ayers' indictment.

"I was screaming, and then I got emotional and I started to cry. I waited a year and six months for that phone call," said McDowdell's mother, Tyia Patrick. "It was five days before Christmas. Christmas will never be the same to us ever again. Ever."

Patrick, who now lives in New York, said she felt helpless at the time of the deadly shooting.

"Manny was loving, caring," said Patrick. "When they said ‘Gentle Giant,’ he was exactly that: Gentle Giant. If you met Manny, you would love Manny."