The man suspected of fatally shooting a youth football league coach in Dallas County turned himself in to police Monday.
Yaqub Talib, 39, was wanted for the murder of Mike Hickmon, 43, that had taken place two days prior.
On August 13, Hickmon was fatally shot during a youth football game at Lancaster Community Park. Numerous children witnessed the shooting. The victim’s son, a 9-year-old, was also on the field.
Someone at the scene recorded a video on their cellphone and posted it on social media. In the video, a fight can be seen, and then gunshots can be heard.
Hickmon was a Little League coach, while Talib was a coach for the North Dallas United Bobcats, another local community sports team.
Several witnesses told detectives there had been a disagreement between the two coaches on Saturday after Hickmon tried to pick up a football and someone kicked it away. The altercation apparently turned physical, and Talib reportedly pulled a firearm and shot at Hickmon multiple times.
Talib left the scene in an unidentified vehicle, taking the firearm with him, according to police’s claims.
Hickmon was shot in the back, chest, and forearm. He was taken to Methodist Central Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Fellow coach and friend Heith Mayes lamented the loss of Hickmon.
“They took a great, a great person who wanted to help the community and wanted to better us as people,” he said. “Always happy, upbeat, good father, good husband, always stood up for what’s right.”
In a statement sent to CBS 11, Hickmon’s family described him as “an amazing husband, son, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and coach.”
Talib was charged with murder and violating probation for a previous charge of assault causing bodily injury. His bond was set at $1 million.
Police did not release details about his alleged involvement in the shooting. But an arrest warrant stated that eyewitnesses reported seeing him commit the shooting with a semi-automatic handgun.
Court records reveal Talib had formerly been arrested on several charges, including child criminal negligence and assault with a deadly weapon.
In 2017, he was arrested by Dallas County authorities for allegedly knocking out a pregnant RaceTrac staff member after an argument over cigars. In 2021, he was booked for drug charges and alleged unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
The suspect Talib is related to retired NFL player Aqib Talib. He was also a coach for the United Bobcats and was reportedly at the field when the shooting occurred. His lawyer confirmed Aqib’s presence, saying the incident left him “distraught and devastated.”
The suspect’s lawyer, Clark Birdsall, released a statement claiming Talib regretted the loss of life but surrendered to authorities so that he could tell his side of the story.
“[Talib] feels terrible the whole thing happened.” However, Birdsall said there were “some heavy defensive overtones to what happened out there on that playing field. And in time, that’ll all come out.”
Investigators said they were still working to determine the events that led to the shooting. Anyone with helpful information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-877-373-8477.