Josh Brent was in attendance along with his Dallas Cowboys teammates on Tuesday as they paid tribute to fallen teammate Jerry Brown at a private memorial.
Brent was charged on Saturday with intoxication manslaughter in the one-car accident that killed Brown after they left a night club early Saturday morning.
Brent arrived to Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas earlier Tuesday afternoon than rest of his teammates, according to ESPN Dallas. Before entering the church Brent hugged an unidentified woman for several seconds.
Stacey Jackson, Brown’s mother, requested for Brent to meet her at the airport and sit with the Brown family during the memorial service, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on his weekly radio show.
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Monday that the team is behind Brent during this terrible ordeal. Brent is still able to be present at team facilities because the NFL does not currently have any issue with his presence, Cowboys spokesman Greg Aiello said.
Brown died Saturday morning after police said Brent was speeding in his vehicle and struck a curb, which caused the car to flip. Brown was then transported to a local Dallas hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Dallas County medical examiner determined the cause of death was from suffering blunt force trauma to his head and neck.
Brent and Brown were best friends and college teammates at Illinois. Brent was on the active roster for the Cowboys while Brown was on the practice squad trying to make the active roster. Brent even allowed Brown to room with him, so Brown could continue to be on the practice squad and even try to make the active roster.
The two friends were coming from a nightclub named Privae Dallas, which issued a statement saying it’s “deeply saddened by the event of the weekend”. They also are cooperating with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and police.
“The safety of our guests is very important to us, and our staff is trained to follow the regulations set forth by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission,” according to the statement, attributed to Privae Dallas’ human resources manager.
During the party Friday night, one of the club promoters tweeted that a dozen unnamed Cowboys players were there ordering numerous bottles of popular champagne.
The Cowboys will now try to shift their focus back to the field as they get ready to host the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Brent, who is out on a $500,000 bond, will possibly continue to replay the tragedy with the thoughts of calling a taxi and still having his best friend around.
