An under-9’s football game turned to tragedy after the coach of one of the teams was shot dead following an argument between parents at the end of the match in Lancaster, Texas.
The brother of former NFL star Aqib Talib, Yaqub Talib, 39, isnow wanted on charges of murder after he was allegedly involved in the fatal shooting at the children’s football game on Saturday evening.
Friends and family identified the official who was killed as Mike Hickmon, who coached the Dragon Elite Academy team. It’s believed Hickmon was shot three times in front of his nine-year-old son who was on one of the teams.
Football coach, Mike Hickmon, 43, was shot dead following a row at the end of an under-9’s game on Saturday
Angry parents could be seen speaking with match officials at the children’s game in the moments before the shooting
Parents rushed onto the field as the argument suddenly spiraled out of control
Police are looking for Yaqub Talib, the brother of former NFL player Aqib Talib
Lancaster Police Department say Talib was involved in a physical altercation with the referees on the field before opening fire at Lancaster Community Park in southeast Dallas County.
Video of the shooting shows a man wearing a black hoodie and hat pulling out a gun and firing.
In chaotic footage shot from the side of the field, parents can be heard yelling and arguing amongst one another with some talking to match officials at the culmination of the game before a scuffle breaks out on the grass.
Within the seconds, the brawl grew larger as more people ran to either join in or break the group up.
Five gunshots then rang out before the coach was seen lying motionless on the field.
Parents could be seen performing CPR on Hickmon as he lay motionless on the field
Parents attempted to save the life of coach Hickmon. A young boy can be seen, far right
Several parents could be seen calling the emergency services on their cellphones
The killing occurred in front of dozens of young children who were there to play football
Frantic parents could then be seen making calls to 911 on their cellphones as children who were witness to the killing were quickly ushered away.
‘They were upset about losing. Dude came on the sideline and said it was going to punch the ref, so the ref called the game,’ fellow coach Heith Mayes told Fox 4.
‘It’s just not that important. It’s not. It’s not that serious,’ coach Kerry Lewis added. ‘No one should be coming to a 9-year-olds game and be fearful for their life or maybe my son gets shot while playing football. This has to stop.
‘His son witnessed him getting shot and murdered on the field. These kids are innocent. They shouldn’t have to witnesses what they witnessed,’ Lewis said.
“He was a genuine person, he was a loving person, he was a father first.’
Coach Hickmon was described as ‘a father, former athlete, a coach, mentor, a pillar of our youth football community and a member of Dragon Elite Academy coaching family’
Hickmon is pictured during happier times, on his wedding day
Although police are looking for Yaqub, his footballing brother Aqib was also at the game when the killing occurred.
‘Aqib was present when this unfortunate incident occurred and is very distraught and devastated over this terrible loss of life. He would like to convey his condolences to the family of the victim and to everyone who witnessed this unfortunate tragedy,’ his lawyer told TMZ.
One parent paid tribute to 43-year-old Hickmon on Facebook: ‘As many may have already heard Mike Hickmon, a father, former athlete, a coach, mentor, a pillar of our youth football community and a member of Dragon Elite Academy coaching family lost his life yesterday at a YOUTH FOOTBALL GAME.
‘Although the older DEA teams were not in attendance at this event it still has rocked us all and really made all of us reevaluate EVERYTHING,’ wrote Courtney Jackson.
‘This is something, no coach, parent or player should ever have to prepare for while participating in youth sports. I welcome suggestions on how we can help our 9u players along with Mikes family recover from witnessing and experiencing something so traumatic at such a young age.’
Aqib Talib, pictured, was not named by Lancaster police as a person of interest but he was present at the shooting and his brother now has a warrant out for his arrest
Aqib was not named by Lancaster police as a person of interest.
He retired in 2020 after nearly 15 years in the league, having won Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos.
During his career he also played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the New England Patriots, and the Los Angeles Rams and currently works as a commentator for Fox Sports.
Lancaster Police asks that anyone with information about the whereabouts of Yaqub Talib to contact Detective Senad Deranjic at 972-218-2756.