Daughter Of Former NFL Player Al Toon Found Dead In Apparent Murder-Suicide

Molly Lillard, a former University of Michigan volleyball standout and the daughter for former New York Jets wide receiver Al Toon, was found dead on Sunday (April 11) in what police are describing as an apparent murder-suicide.

Lillard, 28, and her husband, Royce Lillard III, were identified in the incident on Monday (April 12), with Royce suspected of fatally shooting both individuals, the Arizona Republic reports.

Scottsdale Police initially responded to a reported incident at the couple's home at around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday (April 11), according to a police news release obtained by the Arizona Republic. Officers said they found a woman, later identified as Molly Lillard, with gunshot wounds in front of the house before she was transported to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead from her injuries.

SWAT teams attempted to make contact with Royce Lillard III, who barricaded himself in his home, before entering at around 11:00 p.m. Royce Lillard III was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police also found the couple's 8-month-old child inside the home, who was uninjured during the incident.

The Middleton Times-Tribune reports the couple was married for two years.

Molly Lillard led Middleton High School to two Michigan state volleyball tournaments before graduating in 2010 and becoming a four-year letter-winner at the University of Michigan, where she earned honorable mention all-American honors form the American Volleyball Coaches Association in 2013.

Her father, Al Toon, finished his collegiate career as the University of Wisconsin's all-time leader in receptions (131), receiving touchdowns (19) and yards (2,103), which stood for nearly two decades. Toon was selected No. 10 overall by the New York Jets during the 1985 NFL Draft and was an All-Pro wide receiver in 1986, as well as earning three-time Pro Bowl selections during his eight-year NFL career.

Molly's brother, Nick Toon, was also a standout wide receiver at the University of Wisconsin, finishing his collegiate career ranking fourth in career receptions (171) and receiving yards (2,447) in program history, before being selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 2012 NFL Draft and playing four NFL seasons.

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