Molly Lillard Biography, Wiki
Molly Lillard, the daughter of New York Jets great Al Toon, was fatally shot Sunday at her Arizona home in an apparent murder-suicide, a report said.
Former Middleton High School volleyball standout Molly Lillard, the daughter of University of Wisconsin football great Al Toon, reportedly was shot to death.
Molly Elizabeth Lillard, was a 2010 graduate of Middleton High School, twice leading the school to the state volleyball tournament before playing at the University of Michigan. She was a four-year letter-winner for the Wolverines and earned honorable mention all-American honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association as a senior in 2013.
During her time at Middleton, the Cardinals won 60 consecutive conference matches from 2005-09. She recorded 20 digs in a state quarterfinal win over D.C. Everest in 2009, still tied for second best in a three-set match.
Age
Molly Lillard has died at the age of 28-years-old.
Family & Siblings
The Toon family — parents Jane and Al and four children — is well known in Madison.
Molly’s father, Al Toon, finished his college career in 1984 as the Badgers’ all-time leader in receptions (131), receiving touchdowns (19) and yards (2,103), school marks he held for nearly two decades before he was bypassed by Lee Evans in 2003. He was drafted 10th by the New York Jets and earned first-team All-Pro distinction in 1986 along with three Pro Bowl selections over eight years.
The annual award presented by the Wisconsin Sports Network to the state’s best high school receiver is named for Toon, who was also a two-time All-American triple jumper with the UW track and field team and qualified for the Olympic trials.
Molly’s brother, Nick Toon, also had an illustrious career as a receiver for the Badgers and is fourth in career receptions with 171 and in receiving yards with 2,447. He was selected in the 2012 NFL draft (fourth round) by the New Orleans Saints and stayed in the league through the 2015 season, making 21 catches for 283 yards and a touchdown.
In 2011, ESPN profiled an evening for the Toon family during which Nick played in the inaugural Big Ten title game against Michigan State while Molly’s Michigan team simultaneously upset Stanford in the NCAA volleyball tournament to reach the Sweet 16.
Molly’s sister, Kirby Toon, played volleyball at Wisconsin, and her youngest sister Sydney played volleyball at UW-Whitewater.
Husband & Children
Her husband, Royce Lillard III, was suspected of the shooting and barricaded himself in his home before being found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. SWAT teams tried to establish contact with Royce Lillard before entering the home around 11 p.m.
The couple’s 8-month-old child was also inside the house and was not injured.
According to the Times-Tribune in Middleton, the couple had been married for two years.
Cause Of Death (Suicide)
Former Middleton High School volleyball standout Molly Lillard, the daughter of University of Wisconsin football great Al Toon, reportedly was shot to death in what police are describing as an apparent murder-suicide Sunday in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Arizona Republic reported that Lillard was found with gunshot wounds in front of a house around 5 p.m. and transported to a hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
Completely heartbroken. 💔 Praying for the Toon family and sending love to the entire @umichvball family. Love you, Molly. pic.twitter.com/vqRPFZgFAV
— Erin Virtue (@ErinVirtue) April 13, 2021
Molly Lillard, the daughter of New York Jets great Al Toon, was fatally shot Sunday at her Arizona home in an apparent murder-suicide, a report said.
Police believe Lillard’s husband, 36-year-old Royce Lillard III, shot her before turning the gun on himself in their Scottsdale house.
A SWAT team entered the home at about 10:45 p.m., finding him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police.
Here’s a few shots of the great Molly Toon during her days at @MHS_Cardinals. Toon, 28, was killed Sunday in an apparent murder/suicide in Scottsdale, AZ. pic.twitter.com/uOK12SINAb
— Rob Reischel (@robreischel) April 13, 2021
The couple’s infant is being cared for by the family.
Molly Lillard was a standout volleyball player, both at her Wisconsin high school and later at the University of Michigan, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Suspect
Royce Lillard is suspected of killing his wife sometime before 5 p.m. When police showed up at their residence, he barricaded himself inside.
A SWAT team entered the home at about 10:45 p.m., finding him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police.
