AZ Central reported that on Sunday, Molly Lillard, daughter of former NFL player Al Toon was killed by her husband in her Arizona home in what police suspect to be a murder-suicide.
Lillard was found in front of a home suffering from gunshot wounds. She was transported to a hospital where she later died from her injuries, reported The Grio.
Lillard’s husband, Royce Dale Lillard III, trapped himself in the home, and when SWAT was able to locate him, he was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The couple’s infant baby was found unharmed later inside the same home and is now under the family’s care.
According to the Times-Tribune, Molly Lillard graduated in 2010 from Middleton High School, where she was a varsity volleyball player. She led Middleton to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament in both 2008 and 2009 while she was in high school, and she was a two-time captain, was named second-team all-state twice, during her time at the University of Michigan.
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Laura (McGinnis) Wilkinson, a 2010 MHS graduate and a volleyball teammate of Lillard, said, “I am in absolute shock.”
“Molly was such a good person, such a light in this world. It feels like things like this shouldn’t happen to good people.”
“I really looked up to Molly both on and off the court,” she continued. “On the court, the thing I will remember the most about Molly is how she was such a strong leader, so mature, tough, and inspirational. She was able to shake off anything and keep pushing us all to be our best. Off the court, she was so light-hearted, had an infectious energy and laugh, and was so hard working at everything she did.”
Lillard was a four-year letter-winner for the Wolverines during her collegiate career, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported. The team shared their condolences on social media after receiving word of the loss.
We are extremely heartbroken and at a loss for words at this moment.
The Michigan Volleyball family is sending all of our love to Molly Toon and her family. She was an amazing friend, daughter, teammate and mother.
Molly will be greatly missed. pic.twitter.com/wNNUzl8oMp
— Michigan Volleyball (@umichvball) April 14, 2021
“We are extremely heartbroken and at a loss for words at this moment,” the team tweeted.
“The Michigan Volleyball family is sending all of our love to Molly Toon and her family. She was an amazing friend, daughter, teammate and mother.”
