A house owned by Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley exploded Monday night in North Carolina, killing his father and injuring another person after a suspected gas-leak explosion.
First responders said Farley’s father, Robert M. Farley, 61, was found in a bedroom area of the home in the Charlotte suburb of Mooresville, according to Kent Green, Director of Fire Services and Emergency Management for Iredell County, The Tennessean reported, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Farley, 24, was not in the home when it exploded, a Titans spokesperson told the publication.
“The 6,391 square foot home is a total loss,” the Iredell County Emergency Management said in a news release sent to USA TODAY.
Farley purchased the four-bedroom, four-bath home in 2022 for $2.05 million, according to property records.
Multiple local agencies investigating the explosion
First responders were sent to the home after a report of an explosion and a house collapsing, the emergency management said.
Responders said a victim was taken to a hospital in Charlotte with non-life threatening injuries. Rescuers found another victim dead while searching through debris. The victim was later identified as Farley’s father.
Multiple local agencies are investigating the cause of the explosion, including the Iredell County Fire Marshal’s Office, the NC State Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Dominion Energy, a utility service, said they are also investigating the explosion that occurred at a “customer’s residence,” the company told USA TODAY.
“Our prayers and sympathy are with the individuals impacted by this difficult event,” Dominion Energy added.
Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel, Derrick Henry voice supports for Farley
Farley, who is a native of Maiden, North Carolina, was drafted with the No. 22 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played in nine games in 2022 before being placed on injured reserve.
“What’s most important is that we do everything we can to support him, emotionally,” Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said at a press conference after practice Tuesday.
“Just praying for Caleb,” Titans running back Derrick Henry said. “We were probably the last ones in the locker room last night just hanging around. We just found out the news. My prayers go out to him and his family.”
Farley’s mother, Robin Farley, died from breast cancer in 2018.
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Contributing: Juan Buitrago, Kirsten Fiscus, Sandy Mazza, Nashville Tennessean
