Police on the hunt for prime suspect in murder of former NFL player Antonio Dennard

Cops are on the hunt for a prime suspect in the murder case of former NFL player Antonio Dennard after identifying a handprint on his car outside the Pennsylvania bar where he was killed earlier this month.

Jose Daniel Pizzaro, 24, is suspected of fatally shooting the ex-cornerback, 32, outside Legends Bar and Restaurant in Reading, Penn on October 16.

He is currently on parole for a prior robbery conviction and is not legally allowed to carry a weapon, according to Berks County District Attorney John Adams.

Former NFL cornerback Antonio Dennard was  shot and killed near Reading, Pennsylvania

The Berks County Coroner’s Office pronounced Dennard dead at 3:15amEST on October 16 after he was rushed to a hospital in Reading with a gunshot wound. The shooting allegedly took place at Legends Bar and Restaurant in Muhlenberg Township, outside of Reading

In a statement to WFMZ-TV, he added: ‘Mr. Pizzaro has been charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, aggravated assault, related charges, including persons not to possess a firearm.’

The Berks County Coroner’s Office pronounced Dennard dead at 3:15am EST on Sunday October 16 after he was rushed to a hospital in Reading with a gunshot wound, and his death was ruled as a homicide.

Dennard had brief stints with the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars in his career, although he never played in a regular-season game. 

Cops are on the hunt for Jose Daniel Pizarro (pictured) and believe he is the prime suspect in the murder of Dennard

He played college ball at NAIA Langston University in Oklahoma, where he had  80 tackles and 8 interceptions during his career from 2008-2011. 

‘Antonio D. Dennard, a 32-year-old male, was pronounced deceased at 3:15am on October 16, 2022 at Reading Health Medical Center after being admitted to the Emergency Department for a gunshot wound to the torso,’ read a police statement, provided to DailyMail.com. 

‘In coordination with Muhlenberg Township Police Department and Berks County Detectives, the Coroner’s Office is conducting a death investigation into the cause and manner of death,’ the police statement continued. 

‘The shooting incident was reported to have happened at 2545 N. 5th Street Hwy at the establishment known as Legends Bar & Restaurant, around the time of the call placed to the Berks County 911 Center at 02:25am on October 16, 2022.’