By JASON SMITH
Sports Editor

As football fans across the nation continued to mourn the death of former NFL star and Mississippi native Steve McNair Sunday, police ruled that the death was a homicide, according to the Associated Press.

McNair was found dead in a condominium in Nashville, Tenn. Saturday along with a 20-year-old woman.

McNair was born in Mt. Olive, Miss. and played college football at Alcorn State University. He is widely considered one of the greatest athletes to emerge from Mississippi.

While at Alcorn State, McNair won the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the best Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) player.

During his pro career McNair played in three Pro Bowls and was named AP NFL Most Valuable Player in 2003.

McNair spent thirteen seasons in the NFL. His first eleven seasons were with the Houston Oilers, who later became the Tennessee Titans while McNair was still on the team, and finished his career after two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.

McNair leaves behind his wife Mechelle, and four sons that live in both Mississippi and Tennessee.

The McNair family issued a joint statement Friday evening saying they appreciate the concern, thoughts and prayers during this difficult time of the loss of a husband, father and son.

McNair was shot four times, twice in the head, by a semi-automatic pistol.

Kazemi was found with a single gun shot wound and the pistol was under her body when the police arrived on the scene.

The police have not yet ruled on the cause of death of Kazemi and stopped short of declaring that the death was a murder-suicide, the AP said.