FAIR LAWN, N.J. —
Former Pahokee High football standout and current New York Giants player Janoris Jenkins make his first public statements Thursday regarding the death of a man last week at his home in New Jersey.
Authorities charged Jenkins’ older brother, William H. Jenkins’ Jr., 34, in the death of 25-year-old music producer Roosevelt Rene. Rene was found dead June 26 at Janoris Jenkins’ house in Fair Lawn, N.J., about 10 miles northwest of Metlife Stadium, the Giants’ home stadium.
Police have charged William Jenkins with aggravated manslaughter.
Rene, who went professionally by the name Trypps Beats, was a family friend who had been staying at the residence, according to published reports.
William Jenkins of Fair Lawn
“Trypps was a good friend and we were collaborating on music production together,” Janoris Jenkins wrote in a statement on Instagram. “It truly hurts my heart to know he has passed away.”
Jenkins wrote that he was in Florida finishing off a promotional tour at the time of Rene’s death.
“As this is an ongoing incident, I cannot answer questions related to the investigation,” he said. “I am praying for Roosevelt and his family.”
Jenkins has been with the Giants since 2016, signing as a free-agent defensive back after four seasons with the St. Louis Rams.
He was a second-round draft pick of the Rams in 2012.
Jenkins was The Palm Beach Post’s All-Area defensive small-schools player of the year as a senior at Pahokee in 2007. He helped the Blue Devils win two consecutive state football championships.
He played three seasons at the University of Florida before being dismissed following an arrest for marijuana possession.
He finished his college career at the University of North Alabama.
According to published reports, William Jenkins got into an altercation with Rene that led to Rene’s death.
He was arrested hours later in Ontario County, N.Y. for an unrelated parole violation.
William Jenkins previously served prison time in New York for drug related offenses, records show. He was released in 2016 after serving five years.
He previously lived in Pahokee, but records show no recent ties to the area.