Cousin of Falcon receiver in jail

ATLANTA, May 23 (UPI) -- Atlanta Falcons receiver Roddy White hoped to make a difference in his cousin's life, but the youth was allegedly involved in a home invasion, officials said.

Ali White, 21, and two other men allegedly broke into a Lawrenceville home May 2 and physically assaulted a man and woman before making off with several items, including a watch, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Ali White was being held in the Gwinnett County jail, facing armed robbery charges in the alleged home invasion. One of the suspects remains at large, police said.

Police said four men wearing ski masks, one carrying a baseball bat and another carrying a handgun, broke into the basement of a home while a woman and her boyfriend were playing video games.

Police said one intruder struck the woman while another suspect pistol-whipped the man. One of the victims was a former classmate of Ali White and recognized him, police said.

Tony Taylor, Roddy White's attorney, declined to comment on the incident and a person who answered White's family phone in Charleston said only "he is innocent and didn't do it" before hanging up.

Roddy White brought his cousin to live with him four years ago because the boy was having problems in his hometown of Charleston, S.C., the report said.

Roddy White has become one of the premiere receivers in the NFL and earlier this year the Atlanta Sports Council named him professional athlete of the year.