A terrifying scene unfolded at a youth football practice in St. Louis on Tuesday evening. Volunteer football coach Shaquille O'Shea was reportedly shot multiple times after an altercation with another man at Sherman Park on the city's north side. Several players and parents were present during the shoot-out and ran for cover.
O'Shea, 30, was rushed to an area hospital where he is reportedly recovering after surgery. Although he is alive and expected to be OK, the incident saddened his football family and brought more attention to a city plagued with violent crime.
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The shooting happened early Tuesday evening.
O'Shea and the suspect reportedly argued during a football practice at Sherman Park, KSDK reported. The suspect allegedly pulled a gun and shot at O'Shea multiple times. Dorian Artis was at the park watching his son play football when he heard the gunshots. He said frightened people ran for cover.
"We all shot up the hill to see what's going on and we saw a man shot multiple times in the stomach. I was one of them who said let's get him out of here. Another woman, who's a nurse, started tending to his bleeding wounds," Artis recalled, per KSDK.
The suspect reportedly turned himself in to police.
Daryl Clemmon, 43, surrendered to police, according to KTVI. It is unclear whether O'Shea and the alleged shooter knew each other, but the incident came as quite a surprise to witnesses and residents. He has been charged with armed criminal action and assault in the shooting.
Resident Kayla Williams told the news station she was upset over the terrifying situation.
St. Louis Alderwoman Sharon Tyus was concerned for the children who witnessed the shooting. "The fact that he turned himself in indicates to me that he has remorse for what he did," he said, per KSDK. "I agree with parents that this just doesn't happen at Sherman Park. This is an exception, not the rule, but it's still traumatizing for the children."
The whole situation shook the neighborhood.
"I can't imagine how horrific it is for the players, and they have to go home, and the parents are now trying to come up with answers as to why," James Clark with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis told KTVI.
Residents echoed Clark's concern.
"I can't imagine what that scene was like, and how it's playing again and again in the minds of those young boys," said St. Louis resident Kayla Williams, per KTVI. "I look out and saw that someone got shot. That's crazy. I see that man out there in the field every day with them kids."
Evelyn Pebbles, the city's recreation commissioner, shared this statement: "The City of St. Louis Recreation Division is disheartened by the brazen act of interpersonal violence that occurred Tuesday night at a CityRec Legends Football practice at Sherman Park. Violence in any space is devastating and unacceptable, but especially around our youth."
Dedications and prayers for O'Shea flooded social media.
The football coach is seemingly loved by many who shared prayers and well-wishes as he recovers.
Deanne Dickerson, whose son plays for O'Shea, shared a video with the caption, "My son woke up asking bout his coach Shaquille Oshea said momma when imma see him so we can do our hand shake told him inna minute Lord cover them kids this hard for a lot of them."
Friend LouGotti Whittier posted a photo of O'Shea and wrote, "Shaquille Oshea Pull Through Champ You Got This We All Praying & Rooting For You To Make It Home To Your Family & Friends Bro."
O'Shea posted a video of himself recovering at an area hospital to let loved ones know he is OK.
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St. Louis was named the most dangerous city in the US in a 2022 survey.
Per the New York Post, a WalletHub report said that St. Louis has more violent crime than any of the other 182 US cities surveyed.
"We are in the midst of a homicide crisis. This is taking a tremendous human toll and is a barrier to economic growth and prosperity for people in every community," said Brian Hall with Greater St. Louis, Inc. in a statement obtained by Spectrum News in May 2023. "This is our crisis as a region, and it requires all of us to roll up our sleeves and get to work to fix it."
Jizzle Smith posted about crime in St. Louis writing, "This city so sad bruh, yall out traumatizing these kids when they just doing what they love & that is football. Now they probably ain't feeling safe & of course the parents don't think its safe! These kids gone remember that s— for the rest of they lives! We gotta do better as adults & be more aware of people safety especially children !! Get well soon bro Shaquille Oshea."
St. Louis Metropolitan Police are still investigating the situation.
