New evidence of hitman, Haitian gang in UM football star’s murder, defense says
The trial of the man accused in the murder of his University of Miami football star Bryan Pata was delayed Tuesday after his defense lawyers said they uncovered new evidence linking his death to an ICE investigation, Haitian gang members and a hitman.
Rashaun Jones, Pata’s former Hurricane teammate, 40, was set to face a jury Tuesday morning in connection with Pata’s 2006 death. However, Jones’ defense team said they received information Friday night from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation involving a special agent who had intel from a confidential informant about a hitman and Haitian gang members related to Pata’s killing. Pata, a graduate of Miami Central High, was Haitian American.
The agent was scheduled to give sworn testimony behind closed doors Tuesday about the confidential informant, who had been called “very reliable,” defense attorney Christian Maroni told the judge. An individual also made a statement about killing “that kid from the University of Miami” and killing for hire, Maroni added.
Pata, a 22-year-old Hurricanes star defensive lineman expected to be a top NFL draft pick, was shot in the back of his head and killed on Nov. 7, 2006, outside his home at the Colony Apartments in Kendall. He had just returned from football practice.
Jones was arrested on a second-degree murder charge in 2021, 15 years after Pata’s death. He has pleaded not guilty.
Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Cristina Miranda released the jury Tuesday afternoon to assess how the new evidence may impact the trial. Jurors were expected to return Wednesday for opening statements.
“I don’t want to have openings until we have answers,” Miranda said.
Two weeks ago, Jones rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors that would have had him spending 15 years in prison. Jones has already served five years awaiting trial and would likely have gotten credit for the time served. Jones, however, said he wouldn’t take the plea deal because he didn’t kill Pata.
“Deep down in my heart, I know I’m innocent,” Jones told Judge Miranda.
READ MORE: Teammate accused of killing UM football star maintains innocence, nixes plea deal
The case had been one of South Florida’s most well-known unsolved killings. Jones’ arrest came after ESPN had published an investigative piece about the case.
“ESPN’s investigation uncovered a multitude of leads that police pursued, including a nightclub fight involving possible gang members,” ESPN reported. “The reporting also discovered three alleged murder confessions by other people, including one relayed by federal immigration officials of a man who reportedly died in the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and another from [Bernard] Brinson, the jail inmate who said a fellow inmate told him he killed Pata for money.”
If convicted of Pata’s murder, Jones would face a life sentence.
This story was originally published February 17, 2026 at 3:59 PM.
