Sahel Kazemi Identified as Second Victim In McNair Tragedy

Update (July 8): Nashville police concluded that Sahel Kazemi shot and killed Steve McNair, then turned the gun on herself in a murder-suicide.

Sahel Kazemi has been identified as the woman found dead on Saturday alongside former NFL quarterback Steve McNair. The 20-year-old Kazemi was called a "friend" of McNair's by Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron.

She had suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. Her body was discovered on the floor of a downtown Nashville condominium, just feet from McNair, who was found seated on a couch within the same residence.

Details surrounding the deaths remain murky, but police did release several new pieces of information as the day went on.

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• The bodies were found by McNair's longtime friend, Wayne Neeley, who also said that he and McNair together rent the condo where the incident took place. A witness reportedly placed McNair's arrival at the condo around 2 a.m. on Saturday, though Kazemi's vehicle was there prior to that.

• Contrary to earlier reports, McNair suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The first reports out of Nashville stated that he had died of a single wound.

• Police do not presently consider McNair's wife, Mechelle, as a suspect. Aaron stated that Mechelle was "very distraught" and "at this juncture, we do not believe she is involved."

• Kazemi had been arrested on Thursday for a DUI charge. At the time of that arrest, Kazemi was driving a 2007 Escalade jointly registered to her and McNair.

• According to Kazemi's ex-boyfriend, she and McNair met at the Dave & Buster's where Kazemi worked in Nashville.

• A small, impromptu memorial has sprung up at McNair's restaurant, Gridiron 9, that had opened near the Tennessee State campus in Nashville just last month. Flowers, candles and notes lined the outside of the restaurant, with several messages taped to its windows.

• Autopsies on both McNair and Kazemi are expected to take place Sunday.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

7-05-2009 @ 6:54AM

webreader said...

Stay with your family!

7-05-2009 @ 7:41AM

sassytxn12 said...

This story sounds like a sleazy romance novel. Looks like his "giving back to the community" means he boffed all the young women that he could find. Some hero!

7-05-2009 @ 8:02AM

iphonerulez said...

Yeh, I bet he was giving it back to the community, one or two women at a time. Nothing wrong with this. He was a star athlete and there are no women on this planet that can resist rich, ex-star athletes. Who the heck wouldn't want to be tooling around in an Escalade which is a sure mark of success. No doubt one this woman's thug boyfriends probably got jealous and decided to go on a quick, fun killing spree because that's what the thug life is all about. Kill as many people in a short a time as possible to prove you're a man. No doubt light-skinned Kazemi would have been in high demand by all the nasty guys looking for some cheap love. Hero McNair just stupidly got in the way of the wrong people and caught a few fatal slugs. No matter. Once you leave the football field for good, the only way is down. Going out with your brains scattered all over the room isn't very fitting for an ex-superstar.

7-05-2009 @ 8:04AM

Don Barnes said...

No one deserves to die like that. However, if you put yourself in a condo with a women other than your wife at 2:00 a.m. Don't be surprised if some ex boyfriend or hit man walks in and takes you out. If he was with his wife at 2:00 a.m. he would have had breakfast the next day instead of a sheet over his head.

7-06-2009 @ 9:59AM

ladybronz63 said...

This is a very tragic and unfortunaite situation. I don't condone extra martial affairs but dispute what he and his ex-lover were doing...No one deserve to die in the manner in which they did...We all have to be accountable for our unfavorable behavior when we go meet our maker... We must also remember football players are human beings as well... They are put on this pedestal and when they fall from grace then they are put on blast in the media... Yes, they are public figures and because of that their life becomes an open book and also with that they have a sense of responsibility to be role models both on and off the field.

My heart goes out to "all" parties involved and especially to his wife and children...it was tragic and it was a loss of two lives... May they both rest in peace!!! May both families through this tragic event be able to one day find comfort and be able to keep the positive memories of these two individuals...

7-05-2009 @ 8:42AM

khangus said...

You are an idiot .. she may well have been the one that killed him.

7-05-2009 @ 9:03AM

alovlilade2 said...

What a sad pathetic consequence. I wonder how his mother feels? She was so proud of her son. He did good things for her and she deserved them. My prayers are for her also. When are men like him going to consider the costs for their choices. There are silly women who have drama following them and no matter what they tell you the ex is always a threat. He hurt everyone that loved him with his "player" antics. As for the young lady she was obviously gold digging and look what it got her. Her young life has ended so tragically. College would have been a better choice.

7-05-2009 @ 9:47AM

cwbys1120 said...

It's a shame, he was a good QB. Everybody makes
mistakes.He will be judged by ONE and either set
free or pay dearly.

7-05-2009 @ 10:12AM

damon030 said...

you people are sick , no one knows what happened or knows anyhing about what kind of man this was, this man with Your drug addict hero brett farve bought a tractor trailer full of food and clothes for hurricane victims both black and white and all you can do is blame him for some idiot shooting him, its easy to be an dumb ass behind a screenname huh.

7-05-2009 @ 10:24AM

Home said...

I bet this is how it plays out. She was caught with him earlier in the week. This made their affair public. Steve's wife said "he either leaves her or it is over". Steve tells druggy girlfriend it is over, she shoots him and then takes her own life. Multiple shots to him (anger), one shot to the head to her (suicide), gun is found laying next to her.

7-05-2009 @ 10:43AM

god72father said...

From what the news is saying this looks like a murder suicide with Stevie Mac on the wrong end.Unfortunately sometimes the other woman gets tired of the lies she is being told about her being the most important thing in his life and he is going to leave wifey but he needs time yah de yah etc etc and this is the result. Four kids without a father and a wife left to mourn. Was this piece on the side worth it? A cautionary tale for other athletes and powerful men who play with others emotions for their entertainment and amusement.

7-05-2009 @ 12:17PM

Gina said...

Bravo! You have hit the nail on the head. Move aside baseball, adultery seems to be the new All American pass time. Self absorbed people think that the they can cheat and hurt their loved ones with no consequences. The mentality behind this is: I deserve to be happy; You pay no attention to me; It just happened, etc. They act like spoiled children and try to blame their significant others. They say a lot of crap when they should have just said NO. My thoughts are for the wife and children who have lost a father and husband throught no fault of their own. He played the game and lost.

7-05-2009 @ 10:49AM

Don Magic Juan said...

Only God can judge them. It is easy to look at others and say what they deserve, but let's take a good look at ourselves. Let he without sin cast the first stone. Steve McNair and his 20-year old friend are dead. He left behind four children that don't have a father. Some will judge the quality of him being a father, others will judge his quality of being a husband, but at least he was there trying. As for the young girl, she was just that, Young. Please forgive them and remember them for the good that they brought to this world, because someone out there is hurting because of what they meant to them. You might not respect the deceased, but please respect those that are living and those that loved them. Please allow them to remember the good without airing their laundry. Amen By the way, do the same for Michael Jackson.

7-05-2009 @ 10:54AM

yreagan said...

People this is tragic and heart breaking for his wife, mother, kids and the rest of them that love and adore him faults and all. Ms. Kazemi was a young woman looking for love and acceptance as we all do and only someone(usually a grandmother) Prayed for those of us that escaped death. Many of us have been in the shadows though. Can we just learn to mourn, weep, laugh and cry without tearing down the person that has evidently completed their work here on earth. Remember everyone is somebody's family member and they don't deserve the bashing of their beloved. The media is a tool for us to get information and encounter experiences we would otherwise not have. We should not permit it to make us hurt each other, obstacles and circumstances do that enough. Help a friend feed a foe and love all as you want to be loved. Our hearts and Prayers go out to the families of these tender lives marred by evil not their person. Remember we all must face death and complete this life the important thing is how you live and whether you found your place with THE CREATOR. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

7-05-2009 @ 11:07AM

longhorn40 said...

yaddy--yaddy--yaddy-seen this one many times.@ am in a young girls condo!!!co=owned.sheesh give me a break.Check for a set -up--if that isnt going down----CASE CLOSED--game over!!!! Everyone go home.

7-05-2009 @ 11:18AM

RONNIE said...

you can take the player out of the hood, but you can't take hood out of the player,you give these hood rats all this money because they can throw a ball, shoot some hoop's, but all in all their just dumb ass's. You have the life, fame, money, wife, kid, and you get your head blown off by a 20 year old girlfriend in your player pad. Nice real nice douch bag...

7-05-2009 @ 3:28PM

Dr. V. Brown said...

Dumb ass. Learn how to spell asses (not ass's) before trying to talk about someone else. He wasn't a thug. Are you so perfect? Do you not have any scars or imperfections? I think we all do.

7-05-2009 @ 5:22PM

mittie said...

This bitch was not a innocent victim she knew he was married, she was the one out for the money at twenty years old she was getting paid. not to mention meeting his family and still messing with him.

Corsandova said...

7/5/09
Yreagan, You are right on time! I couldn't have
said it better than that!
I could have ended up like Kezemi: But for the grace of God, I did not. Many of us who condemn one person, and turn right around and condone the same behavior in someone "we" happen to like!
Yreagan, you are well spoken and very wise, you
speak like a true christian; bless you and may
more people share your compassion and understanding. We must realize that we will all
stand before God to account for our actions
thoughts and deeds.

7-05-2009 @ 11:33AM

Pope of Truth said...

He was trying to break it off. Wanted to take and sell the Escalade (a waitress with an Escalade). He was afraid if she wrecked it or killed somebody while she was driving drunk he'd get sued and lose everything. She was a manic depressive. She freaked. Got the gun (he bought her for protection) out of her purse...shot him in a rage, than shot herself.