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Felon Arrested Over Gun in McNair Death

Posted Jul 17, 2009 2:07 PM

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 18) - Federal agents have arrested a convicted murderer for allegedly providing the gun later used to kill ex-NFL quarterback Steve McNair.

Steve McNair Tragedy

FILE - This combo shows Steve McNair, left, in a 2003 season file photo and Sahel Kazemi is shown in this undated booking photo from the Davidson County Sheriff. McNair had been married 12 years before he was shot to death on July 4 in Nashille by 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi, who then turned the gun on herself. Police said Kazemi was struggling financially and suspected McNair might be involved with another lover. (AP Photo/File)

The photograph of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair decorates the top of his casket at Griffith Cemetery near Prentiss, Miss., Saturday, July 11, 2009. McNair was buried before a couple hundred of his friends and family. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

James "Bus" Cook, right, hugs a friend following the burial of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair in Griffith Cemetery near Prentiss, Miss., Saturday, July 11, 2009. Cook was a friend and agent of McNair. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

James "Bus" Cook, friend and agent of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair, wipes away tears following the burial ceremony of McNair at Griffith Cemetery near Prentiss, Miss., Saturday, July 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Lucille McNair, mother of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair waits for the burial of her son at Griffith Cemetery near Prentiss, Miss., Saturday, July 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Fans take photographs of themselves with a jersey wreath honoring former NFL quarterback Steve McNair at Griffith Cemetery near Prentiss, Miss., Saturday, July 11, 2009. A couple hundred of his friends and family attended the burial. Several thousand people attended the funeral service at the University of Southern Mississippi earlier in the day. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

A hearse carrying former NFL quarterback Steve McNair approaches Griffith Cemetery near Prentiss, Miss., Saturday, July 11, 2009, where he was laid to rest. A couple hundred of his friends and family attended the burial. Several thousand people attended the funeral service at the University of Southern Mississippi earlier in the day. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Pall bearers carry casket bearing former NFL quarterback Steve McNair through Griffith Cemetery near Prentiss, Miss., Saturday, July 11, 2009. A couple hundred of his friends and family attended the afternoon burial. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Fans of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair, take photos of the player's burial vault at Griffith Cemetery near Prentiss, Miss., Saturday, July 11, 2009. The vault had a photograph of McNair etched on the top. A couple hundred of his friends and family attended the burial. Several thousand people also attended the funeral service at the University of Southern Mississippi earlier in the day. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

A standing room only crowd of friends and family filled the tents near the vault bearing the casket of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair, forcing other mourners to stand outside the fence at Griffith Cemetery near Prentiss, Miss., Saturday, July 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Adrian J. Gilliam Jr., 33, of LaVergne, Tenn., was arrested by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

A criminal complaint unsealed Friday in Nashville says that Gilliam — who was convicted of murder and attempted armed robbery in 1993 in Florida — admitted he sold the gun to the woman who later shot McNair.

McNair was shot to death on July 4 at his condo by his 20-year-old mistress, Sahel Kazemi, who then turned the gun on herself.

The complaint, signed by ATF agent Mickey French, charges Gilliam with illegally possessing a firearm, which he is barred from doing as a felon.

Detectives traced the gun, a 9 mm Bryco/Jennings, to its 2002 sale at a pawn shop, according to the complaint. Gilliam eventually bought it from an individual for $100 about a year or year and a half ago. Investigators said Gilliam told them he bought the gun for protection after his home was burglarized, and police reports indicate he did report a burglary about the time of the gun purchase.

According to court documents, Gilliam admitted to detectives he sold the gun to Kazemi for $100.

Federal prosecutors in Nashville planned to announce the case at a press conference later Friday.

Police announced in a news conference last week that Kazemi purchased "a fully loaded nine millimeter pistol from a private individual" who met her in the parking lot of the mall where she worked at a Dave & Busters restaurant.

Kazemi met the person when she was trying to sell her car. She mentioned to him that she was looking to buy a gun and he told her he had one for sale, police said. The sale took place two days before McNair's shooting, outside the restaurant where Kazemi worked and first met McNair.

Authorities believe McNair was asleep when Kazemi put the pistol to his head and pulled the trigger. She put two more slugs into his chest and a fourth bullet into the other side of his head before shooting herself.

McNair, a married father of four, walked away from the NFL last year. "Air McNair" was known as a gutsy quarterback who played through serious injuries and led his Tennessee Titans to a Super Bowl.

Though the gun sale in question did not involve a licensed gun dealer, the ATF recently warned all gun dealers in Tennessee that they must still comply with federal gun laws despite a new state law aimed at easing such requirements for weapons manufactured and sold in-state.

Meanwhile, the widow of McNair says in court documents that her husband left no will and a judge in Nashville has ruled that she will oversee his estate.

Davidson County Probate Judge Randy Kennedy granted Mechelle McNair's request to administer the estate and gave her 60 days to file an inventory of her late husband's assets. She says in court documents that she did not know her late husband's worth, but documents contend it is "of sufficient size to be administered."

Mechelle McNair listed herself and her two sons, Tyler and Trenton McNair, as the heirs to the estate. McNair also has two other sons from a previous relationship.

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2009-07-17 14:48:40