CHICAGO- A 21-year-old man was charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting his baseball coach over the weekend because the coach wouldn’t allow him to bat in the game.
Deangelo Williams, of the 10400 block of South State Street, was charged Tuesday with attempted first-degree murder, according to a release from police. Williams is scheduled to appear for a bond hearing Tuesday morning.
The shooting happened Sunday in Abbott Park about 2:20 p.m. near East 95th Street and South Michigan Avenue, police said.
An adult baseball team called the Chicago Cardinals was scheduled to play two games in the park Sunday, but trouble began after the first game when the team’s coach pulled a pitcher from the game, authorities said.
Williams, who pitched during the first game, took offense when the coach, listed on the Cardinals’ Web site as Glynn Hall, decided to put in another player, according to police.
The pitcher went to fetch a gun and shot the coach four times, police said. The coach was initially taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was listed in good condition.
The Cardinals were playing another adult league team called the Chicago Hit Men when the incident occurred, authorities said.
J.C. McDowell, founder and president of the league, said the incident was "unforeseen."
McDowell said players are chosen by their coaches and usually have a recognized relationship. He said tryouts are initially conducted but there is no way to screen players.
Chicago Cardinals coach Glynn Hall, 44, was resting at his home Monday afternoon after being shot in his back, neck and twice in his arm, according to McDowell.
Hall shared a “father-son” relationship with the suspect, McDowell said. The suspect is a pitcher who had just led his team to a playoff berth in an earlier game.
“Everybody was wondering why they were arguing because nothing should have been wrong,” McDowell said. “We later found out he wanted to bat and Glynn wouldn’t let him because his average was low.”
The 18-and-over league is aimed at keeping young adults off the streets and strengthening their baseball skills, McDowell said.
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