Aqib Talib is accused of starting brawl that led to his brother ‘fatally shooting coach’
Former NFL star Aqib Talib is accused of starting a brawl and throwing the first punch at a youth football game that led to his brother fatally shooting an opposing coach.
In a new video reported by ABC 8, Talib is seen moving closer toward Mike Hickmon, 43, on the Lancaster, Texas field. Talib threw a punch at Hickmon and continued to move toward Hickmon before Hickmon began to fall to the ground.
Witnesses say the former cornerback started the brawl because he was upset with the referees after losing the game. The incident led to the fatal shooting of Hickmon by Talib’s brother, Yaqub, 39, police said.
‘He ran across the field and ran over on our sideline and got in the ref’s face,’ said Heith Mayes, a youth football coach. ‘He threw the first punch, and you see Mike trying to defend himself.’
Aqib’s lawyer, Frank Perez, said his client ‘was present when this unfortunate incident occurred and is very distraught and devastated over this terrible loss of life.
‘He would like to convey his condolences to the family of the victim and to everyone who witnessed this unfortunate tragedy.’
Aqib Talib, pictured, was not named by Lancaster police as a person of interest but he was present at the shooting and his brother now has a warrant out for his arrest
Football coach, Mike Hickmon, 43, was shot dead following a row at the end of an under-9’s game on Saturday. Yaqub Salik Talib, 39, has now handed himself in after cops launched a manhunt for him
Yaqub turned himself into police after he was identified as the main suspect in Hickmon’s death. He is charged with murder.
Lancaster police will continue to investigate the incident before possibly filing more charges against Yaqub. A court date has not been set.
In the chaotic footage shot from one side of the field, parents can be heard yelling and arguing amongst one another with some talking to match officials at the culmination of the game before a scuffle breaks out on the grass.
Yaqub Salik Talib, 39, has been booked into Dallas County Jail after handing himself in to cops following a murder warrant being issued
Within the seconds, the brawl grew larger as more people ran to either join in or break the group up.
Five gunshots then rang out before the coach was seen lying motionless on the field.
Authorities said Talib was involved in a physical altercation with the referees on the field before opening fire at Lancaster Community Park in southeast Dallas County.
They added that the suspect pulled out a gun and shot ‘multiple times’ before fleeing in a car.
Aqib was not named by Lancaster police as a person of interest. He retired in 2020 after 15 years in the league, having won Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos.
During his career he also played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams and he currently works as a commentator for Fox Sports.
The Talib brothers are both coaches for North Dallas United Bobcats, a youth football team. Hickmon was a coach with the youth team Dragon Elite Academy Dragons.
‘They were upset about losing,’ Mayes added. ‘Dude came on the sideline and said it was going to punch the ref, so the ref called the game.’
Coach Hickmon was described as ‘a father, former athlete, a coach, mentor, a pillar of our youth football community and a member of Dragon Elite Academy coaching family’
Parents attempted to save the life of coach Hickmon shortly after the shooting. It is thought that he was shot three times in front of his son
Parents rushed onto the field as the argument suddenly spiraled out of control between the coaches and parents
Kerry Lewis, a second coach, said: ‘It’s just not that important. It’s not. It’s not that serious.
‘No one should be coming to a nine-year-olds’ game and be fearful for their life or maybe my son gets shot while playing football. This has to stop.
‘His son witnessed him getting shot and murdered on the field. These kids are innocent. They shouldn’t have to be witnesses what they witnessed.’
Last Wednesday, just three days before Hickmon’s slaying, Talib was indicted on a methamphetamine charge.
In March, a grand jury indicted Talib on an unlawful possession of a gun charge, with both of the cases currently still pending.
Talib hit the headlines again in 2014 after being arrested after a fight at a Dallas nightclub.
Witnesses claimed that a heavily intoxicated Talib was throwing bottles and fighting people and was arrested on a public intoxication charge; the results of that case were not immediately known.
Dallas police were forced to apologize to Aqib Talib after incorrectly naming him as being involved with the fight – and the department published Aqib’s name on social media in connection with the incident.
The Lancaster Police Department is asking anyone with any information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-877- 373-8477
