updated 12:49 a.m. ET Nov. 28, 2007

MIAMI - Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder’s eyes were red. His voice cracked and was barely audible. Next to him sat coach Joe Gibbs, barely more composed.

Safety Sean Taylor’s violent death had left his team in tears and the NFL in mourning.

“This is a terrible, terrible tragedy,” Snyder said.

Taylor died early Tuesday of a gunshot wound from an apparent intruder, a tragic end for a 24-year-old man whose life was transformed by the birth of a daughter 18 months ago.

“We’re going to miss him,” Gibbs said. “I’m not talking about as a player. I’m talking about as a person.”

A day earlier, Taylor and his girlfriend were awakened by loud noises, according to family friend Richard Sharpstein, who learned the details from Taylor’s girlfriend, Jackie Garcia. He said Taylor grabbed a machete he keeps in the bedroom for protection.

Someone then broke through the bedroom door and fired two shots, one missing and one hitting Taylor, Sharpstein said. Neither Taylor’s daughter, Jackie, nor Taylor’s girlfriend were injured in the attack.

The bullet damaged the femoral artery in Taylor’s leg, causing significant blood loss. Taylor never regained consciousness, Sharpstein said.

Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said he did not know why Taylor returned to Miami during the weekend. Taylor was not required to accompany the team to Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay because of a knee injury.

Police had no description of a possible suspect and were investigating whether the shooting was connected to a break-in at Taylor’s home eight days earlier, in which police said someone pried open a front window, rifled through drawers and left a kitchen knife on a bed.

“They’re going to be looking at every angle,” Miami-Dade Police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta said. “They’re going to be looking at every lead.”

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Authorities from Miami-Dade Police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were in and out of Taylor’s home throughout the day. Police were seen taking a computer from Taylor’s home.

A stream of family and friends arrived throughout the day, including his father, Florida City police chief Pedro Taylor. Some embraced outside; most came and went without speaking to a group of several dozen reporters.

Outside Pedro Taylor’s home in suburban Miami-Dade County, the front lawn was filled with friends and family members who seemed to be in good spirits. Small children ran through the yard.

Several people brought large platters of food into the house. When he arrived home, he was met with embrace after embrace by friends and family members.

“We’re all hurting,” Taylor said. “I mean that’s my child.”

Taylor spoke privately with Miami-Dade homicide detectives and expressed confidence in the police investigation, but couldn’t provide additional information.

Speaking of the killer, Taylor said: “I think one day he’ll come to grips with himself and say, ’You know what, it was senseless’ and he’ll turn himself in.”

The elder Taylor said he last saw his son a few weeks ago at a football game in Washington.

Video   Gibbs speaks out about Taylor Nov. 26: Redskin coach Joe Gibbs talks about the Sean Taylor shooting NBC Sports

“We had a wonderful time,” he said. “We laughed and joked and stayed up until 3 o’clock in the morning. We did what fathers and dads do and brothers and sisters, we just enjoyed each other.”

According to The Miami Herald, Garcia arrived at the home of Taylor’s father with her daughter but declined to speak with reporters.

Back in Virginia, the Redskins struggled to cope and share their loss.

“I have never dealt with this,” Gibbs said. “We’re going one hour at a time here.”

Video   Sean Taylor dies after shooting Nov. 27: Washington Redskins' star safety succumbs one day after being wounded by intruder at home. NBC's Chris Clackum reports. NBC News Channel

Gibbs said he planned to have the team practice as scheduled Wednesday, following a prayer service, in preparation for Sunday’s home game against the Buffalo Bills. Snyder said the Redskins will honor Taylor by wearing a patch on their jerseys and the No. 21 on their helmets. The league is expected to decide Wednesday how it will handle tributes to Taylor at this weekend’s games.

There is little precedence on how to go forward, although several teams have dealt with tragedy in recent years.

Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting on New Year’s Day, the day after the season ended in a playoff loss, and teammate Damien Nash — a running back — collapsed and died after a charity basketball game he’d organized in February.

San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Thomas Herrion died of a heart attack after a preseason game in September 2005. Minnesota Vikings tackle Korey Stringer died of heatstroke at a training camp practice in 2001. Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Jerome McDougle was shot in the stomach by three armed robbers in southwest Miami in July 2005 and missed the following season.

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