May 29, 200421 yr LOS ANGELES (May 29) - Former pro football player Pat Tillman was killed by friendly fire as he led his team of Army Rangers up a hill during a firefight in Afghanistan last month, newspapers in California and Arizona reported Saturday. The U.S. Army Special Operations Command was to release information later Saturday on the death of Tillman, who walked away from a multimillion-dollar NFL contract to join the Army after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The Arizona Republic and The Argus of Fremont (Calif.) both reported the Army would announce Tillman was killed by fire from his fellow soldiers. "It does seem pretty clear that he was killed by friendly fire," Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., a member of the House Armed Services Committee, told the Republic. The Argus cited a family friend and also government sources it did not name as confirming the friendly fire report. Tillman's family declined to comment. Tillman, 27, was leading his comrades against enemy shooters who had pinned down other soldiers when he was killed on April 22. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, one of the Army's highest honors. The Cardinals safety became a symbol of patriotism to many Americans when he turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract extension to join the Army. 05/29/04 06:26 EDT Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
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