A youth basketball coach opened fire on a gym full of children and spectators during a game at a Philadelphia recreational center over Easter Weekend, said Philadelphia Police.
The gunfire rang out inside the A.W. Christy Recreation Center along S 56th Street in West Philly around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, said police.
The Christy team’s coach said that the opposing team’s coach – an unidentified 26-year-old – began arguing with a spectator during the game, which police said the visiting team was winning at the time.
The 45-year-old Christy coach said he approached the other coach in hopes of diffusing the situation that had escalated as Christy’s team of teenage boys began making a comeback in the game, said police.
The opposing coaches then began to exchange profanities with one another in front of the children. The angry fan then said something to the visiting coach that caused that coach to tell him to “Shut up!” said investigators.
The visiting coach then told the Christy coach to get back to his side of the gym. The visiting coach then began to walk backward toward the exit – reaching toward a gun in his waistband area, said investigators.
The coach then grabbed his gun and fired one shot that sent about 70 players players and spectators screaming from the gym, said police. Luckily, the bullet didn’t hit anyone.
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After the gunshot, the shooter ran off, said police.
Police continued to investigate Sunday the shooting and the circumstances leading up to the gunfire. Anyone with information should contact Philadelphia Police.
