Yaqub Talib
The brother of a former NFL star is now in custody in connection with a youth coach’s shooting death over the weekend in Texas, his attorney confirmed.
Yaqub Talib, 39, is in the Dallas County Jail on a count of murder. Loved ones reportedly identified the victim as Mike Hickmon, 43.
Talib gave himself up to authorities on Monday, his attorney Clark Birdsall said, according to WFAA.
He reportedly is a coach with his brother Aqib Talib — a retired NFL cornerback who made the Pro Bowl five times — on a youth team the North Dallas United Bobcats. That team was playing the D.E.A. Dragons on Saturday night in an under-9s youth game.
As seen on video, a fight broke out.
There was a “disagreement among coaching staff and the officiating crew,” cops reportedly said.
Dragons president Mike Freeman told WFAA the argument started when Hickmon, the team’s offensive coordinator, went to pick up a football and someone kicked it away.
At some point, defendant Talib allegedly shot Hickmon.
Dozens of children were reportedly at the scene, including the victim’s own son.
“I held his son, Little Mike Jr, and I held him like my son, and it was very, very, very hard to hold him and console him because again – just letting him know that we’ll be there for him,” Freeman reportedly said.
A brief search for defendant Talib ended with his surrender on Monday.
Birdsall said his client felt terrible about what happened. Nonetheless, the attorney suggested there’s more to the story. He did not elaborate.
“Mr. Talib regrets the tragic loss of life but went ahead and turned himself into the law this morning so his side of the story could be told,” he said.
Yaqub Talib remains locked up without bond. In addition to the murder charge, he is also being held for probation violation.
Hickmon reportedly played football at Maceo Smith High School, University of North Texas, and further into adulthood with a 9v9 football league.
“I’m lost at words,” Freeman said. “I don’t know how to explain it to the kids. That’s the part that I’m stuck on right now. How do I explain it them. Why? This is something that these kids will remember for the rest of their life. They’ll never forget this moment.”
[Booking photo via Dallas County Jail]