ST. LOUIS – It’s a case that received national attention after a youth football coach was shot by a parent near the practice field.
The surviving shooting victim is Shaquille Latimore, known as coach Shaq. He was shot in October 2023 near a practice field at Sherman Park, which is next to the Wohl Recreation Center in north St. Louis.
The shooting occurred near youth football players who were 9 and 10 years old, allegedly by a parent reportedly upset over a lack of his son’s playing time.
The defendant disputed that claim and called the coach the aggressor.
Prosecution says the defendant fired five shots, with Shaq testifying that at least a couple of those were after he had fallen from the first gunshots. The accused shooter, Daryl Brian Clemmons Sr., was charged with first degree felony assault and armed criminal action.
Clemmons claimed that it was self-defense–-alleging that Shaq challenged him to a fight while holding a gun and also pursued Clemmons relentlessly near the practice field. Clemmons said Shaq even took a swing at him with gun in hand.
Clemmons acknowledged the coach had handed his gun to someone and was unarmed when he was shot, however he claims the coach was still pursuing him and was demanding his gun back from the person he handed it off too.
Clemmons added that the coach was just about to have it in his hands again when he fired in fear for his own life.
Closing arguments wrapped up at the end of the day Thursday. The case is now with the jury, deliberating.