A Missouri man was convicted last week of shooting a youth football coach during an argument over his son’s playing time.
According to a press release from the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office, Daryl B. Clemmons, 45, was found guilty of assault and armed criminal action for shooting 34-year-old Shaquille Latimore, a volunteer coach for the City Rec Legends Football League, five times near a practice field on Oct. 10, 2023.
Clemmons and Latimore were initially armed during their verbal spat before the latter handed his gun to a friend and suggested they should “fight with fists.” Clemmons rejected the idea, opened fire, and fled the scene.
Latimore, who survived the shooting, testified that he was struck by some of the bullets after falling to the ground, KTVI reported. Clemmons argued he was acting in self-defense, claiming Latimore challenged him to a fight while holding his weapon.
A group of 9 and 10-year-olds were playing nearby when the shooting occurred.
"Violence, especially in youth sports, is completely unacceptable and undermines the purpose of these programs—teaching teamwork, discipline, and respect," Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore said in a statement. "This could easily have been a lethal encounter for the coach as well as for the children and family members present. Unfortunately, the trauma of this event will not be easily forgotten by all those who witnessed it."
Clemmons is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13.
