Missouri Youth Football Coach Claims He Was Shot by Parent Due to Son’s Playing Time

A youth football coach in St. Louis was shot four times during a practice Tuesday night by a parent who allegedly was angry that his son wasn’t getting enough playing time. 

Shaquille Latimore is recovering from surgery after the attack and is in critical but stable condition. The volunteer coach told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the parent, identified as Daryl Clemmons, previously confronted him weeks ago over his son not being a starter. St. Louis police confirmed Latimore's account to USA TODAY. 

According to Latimore, Clemmons kept reaching into a pocket of his sweatsuit while his back was turned to the coach. Shots were then fired at Latimore, hitting him in the leg, arm, back, and abdomen. 

“After every game, he would try to critique me,” Latimore told Kim Bell of the Post-Dispatch. “After he shot me, he was like … ‘I told you I was going to pop your [expletive].” 

Clemmons turned himself in to authorities Wednesday and was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. 

Latimore volunteered as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for a city recreational league team, called the St. Louis BadBoyz, composed of 9- and 10-year-old players. Latimore, who played football at St. Louis’s Vashon High School, coached the youth team with his cousin. 

“He’s thankful to be alive,” Latimore’s mother, SeMiko, said. “He’s a little teary-eyed of course, but he is in good spirits.”

The family is currently trying to raise money to cover Latimore’s medical bills.