At a youth football game, former NFL player Aqib Talib is charged with inciting a fight and delivering the first punch, which led to his brother fatally shooting the opposing coach.
In a recent video obtained by ABC 8 and showing Talib approaching Mike Hickmon, 43, on the field in Lancaster, Texas. Talib moved closer to Hickmon after punching him, and Hickmon started to tumble to the ground.
According to eyewitnesses, the former cornerback began the fight because he was angry with the officials after his team lost the game. Yaqub Talib, the 39-year-old Talib’s brother, shot Hickmon dead as a result of the encounter, according to authorities.
He raced across the field, crossed over to our sideline, and shoved the referee in the face, according to young football coach Heith Mayes. You can see Mike attempting to protect himself after he delivered the initial blow.
‘Was there when this horrible occurrence happened and is extremely distressed and grieved over this terrible loss of life,’ according to Aqib’s attorney, Frank Perez.
He wishes to express his sympathies to the victim’s family as well as to everyone who saw this tragic event.
Yaqub surrendered to authorities after being named as the prime suspect in the killing of Hickmon. He faces a murder accusation.
Before considering laying any charges against Yaqub, Lancaster police will continue their investigation into the event. No trial date has been scheduled.
At the end of the game, parents can be heard chatting to match officials and shouting at one another in the chaotic video taken from one side of the field. A fight then breaks out on the grass.
As additional individuals rushed to join or disperse the fight, it increased in size within seconds.
The coach was then observed laying motionless on the field after five rounds had been fired.
Authorities said that before opening fire at Lancaster Community Park in southeast Dallas County, Talib got into a physical dispute with the officials on the field.
They claimed that before escaping in a vehicle, the suspect drew a revolver and fired “several times.”
Police in Lancaster did not identify Aqib as a person of interest. After 15 years in the game and a Super Bowl 50 victory with the Denver Broncos, he announced his retirement in 2020.
He has also played for the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his career. He is presently a Fox Sports pundit.
The North Dallas United Bobcats youth football club is coached by both of the Talib brothers. Hickmon served as a coach for the Dragon Elite Academy Dragons young squad.
They were disappointed about losing, Mayes said. The referee declared the game over when a man on the sidelines threatened to assault him.
Another coach, Kerry Lewis, said: “It’s simply not that significant.” It isn’t. Not that serious, really.
“No one should attend a nine-year-olds’ game in dread for their lives or that my kid would be shot while playing football,” the speaker said. This has to end.
“His kid saw his father being shot and killed on the field.” These children are excellent. They shouldn’t be required to testify about what they saw.
Three days prior to the murder of Hickmon, on last Wednesday, Talib was charged with methamphetamine possession.
Talib was charged with unauthorised possession of a firearm by a grand jury in March; both cases are still ongoing.
2014 saw Talib make news once again as he was detained during a brawl at a Dallas nightclub.
Talib was detained on a charge of public drunkenness after witnesses allegedly saw him tossing bottles and assaulting others. The outcome of that case was not immediately known.
Aqib Talib received an apology from Dallas police after the department mistakenly identified him as having been engaged in the altercation and posted Aqib’s identity on social media.
Anyone with information is urged by the Lancaster Police Department to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-877-373-8477.