Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III received a special release from prison Tuesday to speak at a Hope for Prisoners event in Las Vegas.
At the event, Ruggs apologized to the family of Tina Tintor, a 23-year-old woman he killed in a car crash on Nov. 2, 2021.
‘I wish I could turn back the hands of time,’ Ruggs said when asked what he would tell the family in a video taken by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. ‘I would love for them to meet the real Henry Ruggs and not the one that was escaping from something.’
Ruggs later clarified he was ‘escaping’ the pressure that came with being a first-round pick, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Ruggs traveled at speeds of up to 156 mph in Las Vegas on the night of the fatal crash and had a blood alcohol content of 0.161, more than twice the legal limit in Nevada.
Tintor and her dog, Max, were burned to death after Ruggs’ Chevrolet Corvette slammed into the rear of her Toyota RAV-4. Ruggs and his girlfriend – Kiara Kilgo-Washington, who goes by Rudy Washington – suffered non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash.
‘I sincerely apologize for not only being a part of that situation, but the fact my face is always in the news, it’s always in the newspaper,’ Ruggs said. ‘So they have to constantly be reminded of the situation, be reminded of me. Those memories have to continue to rise because of all of the fame and the notoriety I have, which I never asked for. I never liked. I would just tell them that like I said I deeply apologize for being a part of that.’
Ruggs is eligible for parole beginning Aug. 5, 2026, per records from the Nevada Department of Corrections. He must be considered for parole release no later than July 4, 2027.
The 26-year-old was asked whether he would potentially like to return to the NFL in the future. His response?
‘Yes, I would love to,’ Ruggs said. ‘I’m in this newfound spiritual space, and I’m confident in who I am and what I can do, so, when the time comes, I’m sure I’ll be ready.’