Blades charged with manslaughter in cousin's shooting death

Jet, August 7, 1995

Seattle Seahawks receiver Brian Blades recently was charged and booked for manslaughter in the shooting death of his cousin Charles Blades in Plantation, FL.

Blades posted $10,000 bail and read sympathy cards as he was driven from the Broward County jail in Fort Lauderdale.

His agent said the 29-year-old receiver is expected to report to Seahawks training camp.

A week before he was booked on the July 5 shooting, Blades read an emotional statement in which he said the shooting of his 34-year-old cousin was an accident.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Brian was hung to intervene in an argument between his brother, Detroit Lions defensive back Bennie Blades, and Bennie's ex-girlfriend. Charles was apparently with Brian as a bystander.

Police said Brian Blades went to get his gun to stop the argument after his brother pushed him. Charles tried to take the gun from Brian, but Brian shot his cousin in the chin from a distance as close as 4 inches as the two struggled.

If convicted of the second-degree felony, Blades could face as much as 15 years in prison.