Jacksonville football star's father sentenced to 12 years, 6 months for manslaughter
The father of former star Jacksonville football player Otis Anderson Jr. agreed to plead guilty to reduced charges in the 23-year-old's death.
Otis Lee Anderson Sr., 53, was initially charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder following the Nov. 29, 2021, shooting death at their Johnson Lake Court home off Dunn Avenue. Tuesday he pleaded guilty to armed manslaughter and armed attempted manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison, according to the State Attorney's Office.
He receives credit for 707 days of time served while awaiting trial. The family did not wish to address the court, the State Attorney's Office advised.
Anderson Jr., who is not related to NFL great Ottis "OJ" Anderson who spells his name with two t's, had moved back in with his parents after being released from the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad that September. There were no reports of a history of violence or abuse between father and son, according to a court document seeking a lower bond and conditional release.
But on that Thanksgiving weekend night, Anderson Sr.'s wife told investigators her husband became enraged after being bitten by their son's girlfriend's dog, according to the arrest report. Anderson Jr. came downstairs to see what happened and got into an argument with his father.
His mother told him to go back upstairs, which he apparently did. Then she and her husband began to argue, the report said. He "flipped the downstairs recliner," which caused the son to come back downstairs to check on his mother. Another argument ensued between father and son and "it appeared like they were going to fight," the arrest report said.
The son went to the dining room, while his father went into the garage. The father came back in and met his son in the kitchen, and shots erupted. Anderson Jr. was shot in the chest and his mother grazed, police said.
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Anderson Sr. said his son charged at him and he had the right to defend himself. He said he had no recollection of shooting at his wife who he said must have gotten in between them, according to court records. He said multiple times that his son hadn’t disrespected him before. In officer body camera video during his arrest he said a couple of times that he was attacked in his own home, but officers weren’t interested in his side.
The arrest report also listed alcohol as being involved.
How good was Otis Anderson Jr.?
Anderson Jr. was a back-to-back state champion running back for University Christian School in 2015 and 2016, gaining more than 1,000 yards in each of his last two seasons. He went on to have a noted football career at the University of Central Florida and a taste of the NFL.
At UCF, Anderson played for the Knights from 2017 to 2020, including the program's perfect 13-0 season in 2017. He concluded his college career eighth in UCF history in all-purpose yards with 3,708, eighth in touchdowns with 27 and second in yards per carry with 6.1. The Times-Union named him to the annual First Coast All-Football Bowl Subdivision team in both 2019 and 2020.
He went undrafted in the NFL but but got a chance with the Rams in June 2021 until his release a few months later.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Father pleads guilty to Otis Anderson Jr.'s death in Jacksonville
