“He possesses a firearm!”: Frightening occurrences at a youth football game in Joelton
Metro Police issued a statement regarding the incident at the youth football game in Joelton, Tennessee: “The video provided to the MNPD does not distinctly show a gun, although the manner in which the man holds his hand in the fanny pack is consistent with such. The man identified as a suspect denied having a gun when contacted by a North Precinct detective. Witnesses reported that the man partially pulled a gun out of the fanny pack at one point. The individuals involved in the confrontation with the man at that time have informed our detective that they do not wish to pursue charges. No charges have been filed. However, this could change if any involved party decides to pursue prosecution.”
Parents reported that police were called to the youth football field at the Joelton Community Club off Old Clarksville Pike on Saturday, following another incident across the nation where a parent’s anger at a child’s football game escalated into a more serious situation.
The incident occurred during the junior football game between the Greenbrier Bobcats and Joelton Vikings.
In a video recorded by a parent, a man in a brown hoodie, reportedly a parent, is seen charging onto the field. Terry Dean, President of the Middle Tennessee Junior Football League, stated that the man was ejected at that point, but he later returned to the field at the end of the game, as captured in a separate video clip.
In the subsequent video, the same man in the brown hoodie is observed attempting to retrieve something from a bag he is carrying, prompting someone in the crowd to shout, “he’s got a gun!” While it’s unclear from the video provided to NewsChannel 5 whether there was indeed a gun in the bag, Dean emphasized the commotion it caused was undeniable.
Dean, who has been involved with the Junior Football League for years, expressed concern over the escalating behavior of parents at sports events nationwide, stating that such conduct needs to be addressed promptly.
In the video, a person identified as a coach is seen walking away from the field with the bag the initial man was carrying. As a consequence of the incident, the Greenbrier league has expelled the parent for the season and placed the entire team on probation, with the possibility of further sanctions.
Dean underscored the importance of maintaining integrity and character in youth sports programs, rather than prioritizing winning at all costs.
Efforts are being made to enhance security measures for upcoming playoffs and the super bowl, with uniformed security officers planned to be stationed at every host site. The league board is considering making this security measure permanent starting next season.
