During an October practice in a St. Louis park, Shaquille Latimore, a youth football coach, got into an argument with a father whose son Latimore had benched in a previous game. It ended in gunfire. Daryl Brian Clemmons, the father, shot Latimore several times because he was upset about his son not starting on the team, Latimore said, reports the Washington Post. “I’m honestly still in disbelief,” said Latimore, who was seriously injured. Clemmons remains detained as he faces felony charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. His attorney said Latimore initiated the altercation and that Clemmons fired at the coach in self-defense. Latimore denied that he was threatening Clemmons when he was shot.
Latimore's team of 9- and 10-year-old players, the Bad Boyz, coped with the shock of the shooting as the story got national attention. The shooting had ended the team’s season. The city of St. Louis, which runs the league the Bad Boyz play in, chose to exclude Latimore’s team from the playoffs. “Those kids don’t deserve that,” Latimore said. St. Louis spokesperson Nick Dunne said Latimore’s team was suspended because of “a series of incidents perpetuated by adults” that culminated in the shooting. “The City of St. Louis Recreation Division is committed to ensuring our youth have a safe place to play sports and socialize,” Dunne said. Latimore and Clemmons were present during a Bad Boyz practice Oct. 10. Court documents say Latimore approached Clemmons at the park. Latimore pulled out a gun and gave it to another person to hold, and Clemmons shot Latimore while Latimore was unarmed. Latimore said he carries his gun for protection, saying the park where the team practices is in a rough area.
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