Houston Texans Wide Receiver Tank Dell Sustained Minor Injury in Nightclub Shooting, 16-Year-Old Arrested

Houston Texans' wide receiver Tank Dell was hit with a bullet during a nightclub shooting in Florida just after midnight Saturday. Dell is among ten people who were injured in the shooting. He was treated for a minor wound and released from the hospital on Sunday.

The NFL Team released a statement on social media on Sunday, writing:

We have been made aware that Tank Dell was a victim of a shooting in Sanford, Fla. last night. He sustained a minor wound but has been released from the hospital and he is in good spirits. We are in contact with him and his family and will provide more updates when appropriate but we ask that you please respect his privacy at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the incident.

Statement from the Houston Texans: pic.twitter.com/0ISsjlMHr0
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 28, 2024

Seminole County Sheriff’s Department reported that nobody was killed in the shooting and that all 10 individuals who sustained injuries were in not life-threatening condition.

According to the police report, a fistfight occurred inside Cabana Live Club when an uninvolved suspect began firing into a crowd of people shortly after midnight. Venue security managed to apprehend the gunman.

Police have arrested a 16-year-old, Christopher Bouie Jr., in connection with the shooting, charging him with attempted homicide, firing a weapon on public property, use and display of a firearm during a felony, and possession of a firearm by a minor, according to Fox News. Bouie Jr. is accused of using a 9mm handgun in the commission of the crime. Authorities found spent shell cases at the scene matching that found in the magazine of the firearm.

This is Christopher Bouie. He is charged with:

- Possession of a firearm by a minor
- Use and display of a firearm during felony
- Firing weapon in public property
- Attempted homicide

Bouie is the alleged shooter that wounded 10 victims including Texans WR Tank Dell. pic.twitter.com/bGqwO2iAGD
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) April 29, 2024

Cabana Live released a statement:

As most of you have heard, there was an incident outside our establishment last night. We are cooperating with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and praying for all those involved. We reserved our venue out for a private event and we are still learning as the investigation continues what was the cause of this isolated incident. Our Cabana Live family is 100% safe and appreciate all the prayers and concerns. We are open our normal business hours.

Dell, age 24, is from Daytona Beach and played at Mainland High School. As a third-round draft pick out of the University of Houston, Dell had a break-out rookie year with the Texans in 2023 before suffering a fractured fibula during the week 13 game in December.

The season-ending injury prevented him from competing in the team's playoff run, which ended in a loss to NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round.

His injury came after a highlight-reel-worthy week 11 performance against the Arizona Cardinals, where Dell connected with Offensive Rookie of the Year, Quarterback C.J. Stroud, for eight receptions on ten targets for a career-high 149 yards and one touchdown.

Dell ended his rookie season with 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in the 11 games he played.

Tank Dell Week 11 Every Target and Catch Houston Texans vs Arizona Cardinals NFL 2023

Dell finished with 8 Recs on 10 Tgts for a career high 149 Rec yards and 1 TD.

Full video 📽️ https://t.co/qW39u0dtNb #nflfootball #fantasyfootball #football #highlights #Stroud #WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/R8mj5IOJhB
— NFL Film Study (@NFLFilmStudy) November 20, 2023

Controversy is brewing within the sports community over one commenter's reaction to the news of Dell being shot. ESPN's Mike Brindisi is accused of reportedly making a since-deleted post that read "I hope your boy bleeds out," after the news of Dell's gun wound broke on Sunday.

@espn This is disgusting behavior from @Mike_Brindisi

Mike thought is was appropriate to say this about Tank Dell after the story of him being shot in a Florida nightclub came out. pic.twitter.com/lmJtvQWsi7
— Patrick Storm (@PatrickStormHTX) April 28, 2024

While sports trash talk is expected within the football community, wishing death on an innocent bystander of a crime is clearly across the line, especially from a sports journalist.

This is a developing story RedState will continue to monitor.