Ira Denson, an 18-year-old Florida State University football player was arrested Tuesday for stealing a teammate's credit card to purchase shoes. Denson, an offensive lineman, is charged with fraudulent use of credit card and petty theft.
Running back Delmarick "Mario" Pender approached Tallahassee police after his credit card was stolen from the football team's locker room in December.
On Dec. 19, Pender's card was used three times at a gas station, a Foot Locker store in Governor's Square mall and at Champs Sports for nearly $500.
According to court documents, surveillance video from Champs showed Shaquille Walden, 18, of Tallahassee, using the card to buy a pair of shoes while Denson stood next to him. Denson told police that he was aware of the card's owner but didn't know where Walden had it from, Tallahassee reports.
However, Walden told the police that it was Denson who gave him the card and he volunteered to purchase the shoes for him. The shoes were a gift for his father.
At the Foot Locker store, a clerk told the police that Walden first asked her whether it would be necessary to enter a PIN number while using the credit card. After she said they didn't have to use a security number, the teenagers shopped for more than $300. Walden recognized himself as Mario when asked for an ID.
Court documents also state that Walden is not associated with FSU athletics and had no access to the locker room.
On Dec. 22, suspecting that Denson stole his credit card, Pender went to his room and took away the pair of shoes. When Pender demanded Denson for the money, Denson told him that he would meet him at his apartment to exchange the shoes for money.
However, during the exchange Tarron Addison, a friend of Denson's, shot Tim Pruitt, Pender's half brother, in the head about three to four times from the front seat of a car. Luckily Pruitt only suffered a gunshot wound. Denson sat in the passenger's seat while Addison shot.
Addison is charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Denson was redshirted last year as a freshman in connection to the shooting.
