By: Erin Lisch

April 24, 2017

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- An outpouring of love for former FSU wide receiver Travis Rudolph after his father is killed in an accidental shooting.

55-year old Daryl Rudolph was shot and killed while working at a West Palm Beach night club Friday night.

According to law enforcement Daryl Rudolph was working in a storage room when a stray bullet hit him in the neck. This happening after a gun accidentally discharged in the room next door. He died the following day at an area hospital.

Now, the FSU community is supporting his son days before what was supposed to be the biggest weekend of Travis Rudolph’s life.

Number 15 for the Noles, was well known for his work on the field at Florida State.

FSU Student Brenton Williams said, "I thought he was a great player one of the most consistent receivers."

But only days from the NFL draft, it's what happened off the field that has his FSU family reaching out.

FSU Zachary Silvester said, "My condolences go out to him and his family."

Rudolph's father Daryl killed in an accidental shooting.

His son's former teammates like Derwin James and Nyquan Murry showing love and support.

Something experts say is key.

CEO of The Apalachee Center Dr. Jay Reeve said, "For somebody like Travis Rudolph I think he appreciates the outpouring support he is receiving, it’s crucially important to helping him get through this."

Dr. Reeve says Rudolph will need to grieve, although it could be tough while in the spotlight.

"Maybe that the grief and expression have to be delayed till after that or to be sort of tamped down and that's possible too. That's okay, as long as it happens eventually," said Dr. Reeve.

FSU students believe Rudolph will get through this.

"I think it's really tragic, and it really sucks. Life hits you in a bunch of different ways, you know you have to learn to overcome obstacles," said Silvester.

"I just hope that he has a great season in memory of his father and continues on his legacy," said Williams.

Hoping a son can continue a legacy, while honoring his father on the field.

Travis Rudolph is expected to be a late round draft pick.

His dad died in what's being ruled an accidental shooting, which the CDC says is responsible for 500 deaths in the U.S. every year.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- The father of former FSU wide receiver Travis Rudolph was killed in an accidental shooting in West Palm Beach, according to a report by the Orlando Sentinel.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said Monday that 55-year-old Darryl Rudolph was found dead last Friday in a storage room at the Sugar D's Adult Club in West Palm Beach with a gunshot wound to the back of his neck.

Rudolph was reportedly making repairs at the strip club when he was fatally shot when a gun discharged from another room in what authorities describe as an accident.

The sheriff's office said in a news release that Rudolph died at a nearby hospital.

Investigators determined that Rudolph was fixing some items in a back storage room at the club when another worker was moving a firearm off a shelf in an adjacent room. The gun discharged, striking Rudolph.

The sheriff's office says the shooting was unintentional, but detectives are still investigating.

The news comes in the week prior to Travis Rudolph hoping to be selected in the NFL Draft.

Travis Rudolph is perhaps best known for his off-the-field actions, when he made national headlines by befriending an autistic student at a local middle school.