Father of FSU star Travis Rudolph fatally shot in neck with AK-47 assault rifle

Paul Senat says rifle discharged as he grabbed it from shelf, arrest report says

Darryl Rudolph (left, courtesy of WPEC) was fatally shot in the neck with an AK-47 assault rifle at Sugar Daddy's Cabaret in West Palm Beach (background, courtesy of WPBF). The club's co-owner, Paul Senat (right), faces a manslaughter charge.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The father of a former Florida State University football star killed in a shooting at a South Florida adult nightclub was shot in the neck with an AK-47 assault rifle, according to an arrest affidavit.

Paul Senat, 36, of Lantana, was arrested Tuesday on a manslaughter charge in the shooting death of Darryl Rudolph.

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Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Detective Jimmy Francisco said Rudolph was shot Friday night in a back office at Sugar Daddy's Cabaret in West Palm Beach.

Senat, who co-owns the club, told detectives that he was in the office with Rudolph and co-owner David Fiore, but left to move the rifle, which was kept on a shelf in an adjacent liquor room, according to the arrest affidavit. Senat said he grabbed the gun and it discharged, firing a single shot that went through the wall and struck the 55-year-old victim.

Fiore told detectives that he, Rudolph and other employees were in the office "discussing work-related issues." Fiore said he heard a loud bang and then saw Rudolph fall to the ground.

Senat said he didn't recall how he grabbed the rifle when it fired and didn't immediately realize it, Francisco wrote in the report.

The club was open for business and crowded with patrons at the time of the shooting.

"Senat's conduct was a grossly careless disregard of the safety and welfare of others," Francisco wrote.

Travis Rudolph, who played football at Cardinal Newman High School, left FSU after his junior season to declare for the upcoming NFL draft. The wide receiver made headlines last summer after he ate with an autistic boy who was sitting alone while the Seminoles were visiting a Tallahassee middle school.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.