ST. LOUIS — In a troubling case involving youth sports, a Missouri father was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Thursday after shooting and wounding a youth football coach in St. Louis. The incident occurred as children, aged 9 and 10, were practicing nearby.
The convicted man, 45-year-old Daryl Clemmons, was found guilty last month by a jury on charges of assault and armed criminal action. The charges stemmed from the October 2023 shooting of Shaquille Latimore, a volunteer coach for the City Rec Legends Football League. Although Latimore was critically injured, he survived the attack.
Both parties were armed at the time of the confrontation. Prosecutors highlighted that Latimore had disarmed himself by handing his gun to a friend, proposing a fistfight to resolve the dispute. Clemmons declined the suggestion and instead opened fire, hitting Latimore five times. After the shooting, Clemmons fled the scene but later surrendered to police.
The shooting led city officials to temporarily suspend the football team, citing repeated issues involving adults that reached a climax with the violent incident near a practice field at Sherman Park. Latimore expressed his frustration with the decision, arguing that it was unjust for the team to face consequences for the incident.
The defense team for Clemmons contended that the shooting was an act of self-defense and has filed a motion seeking a new trial.
Officials from the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office disclosed that the altercation between Clemmons and Latimore originated from disagreement over how much playing time Clemmons’s son was receiving.
In a public statement following the verdict, Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore condemned the violence, particularly in a youth sports setting. “This sort of behavior is absolutely unacceptable and goes against the core values these programs are meant to instill: teamwork, discipline, and respect,” Gore stated.
In response to the incident, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, in collaboration with the city, initiated counseling services for the young players and others who were present during the harrowing event.
