A former University of Miami football player goes on trial Monday for the 2006 murder of teammate Bryan Pata, nearly 20 years after the defensive tackle was shot in the head outside his off-campus apartment. Rashaun Jones, 39, faces second-degree murder charges after being arrested in 2021, with prosecutors alleging the teammates had "ongoing issues" before Pata's death.

Pata, a 22-year-old projected NFL draft pick, was killed on November 7, 2006, in the parking lot of his Miami apartment complex. The case remained unsolved for over a decade until ESPN's investigation prompted renewed police scrutiny. Prosecutors claim Jones had conflicts with Pata over a woman who previously dated Jones before moving in with Pata, and that Jones had threatened to shoot him.

Jones has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, rejecting a plea deal that would have given him 15 years with credit for time served. His attorney stated Jones is "willing to go to trial to prove his innocence," while Pata's family expressed relief that the case is finally after years of frustration with the investigation's slow progress. The trial represents a long-awaited resolution for both the victim's family and the University of Miami community.

Quick Fact: Bryan Pata was projected as a second- or third-round NFL draft pick when he was killed in 2006.