Tony Fein, an Iraq war veteran who played for the Baltimore Ravens in the preseason and was arrested in a high-profile incident at the Inner Harbor, was found dead Tuesday morning in his home state of Washington, officials said.
The 27-year-old linebacker was discovered face down and unconscious in the living room of a friend's townhome in Port Orchard about 8:50 a.m., according to Mike Wernet, a battalion chief and medical officer for the South Kitsap Fire and Rescue.
Fein had vomited and was pronounced dead an hour later at a local hospital, Wernet said.
The county coroner, Allen G. Gerdes, said the cause of death was unclear pending an autopsy and toxicology tests, but he said that there was no indication of criminal activity. The local sheriff's office said that it opened a routine death investigation on Tuesday afternoon after learning of the death through news reports.
Ravens star Ray Lewis, who helped mentor Fein during training camp, said Fein was a "humble young man." "He was always searching for some type of direction. It's really sad," Lewis said. "Our heart definitely goes out to his family. It's heartfelt when you wake up and get news like that with someone you just went to war with."
Fein's death came one day before he was due to appear in Baltimore District Court to face charges that he assaulted a city police officer investigating a report that a gun later determined to be a cell phone had been passed between a group of Ravens players having a meal at the Inner Harbor. Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who spoke to the team Wednesday morning about Fein's death, said he was proud that Fein was part of the Ravens.
"It's just a shock and we're saddened, " Harbaugh said. "He's a tremendous young man. He's a Raven to us and always will be."
