Surprise! Gun-Toting Football Dad Was Right!

Back in October of last year — Oh! It seems so long ago! — a father was arrested for pulling a gun on the coach of his son’s football team. The father, Wayne Derkotch, argued with the coach over his son’s playing time, got into a fight with the man and pulled a gun and waited for police. (Somehow, the ref of the 5- and 6-year-old kids’ game — who made sure the kids were safe and not shot — was arrested, too, but the charges against him were dropped.)

Where was I? Oh, right. So yesteday, Derkotch was acquitted of charges of assault, recklessly endangering another person and possession of an instrument of crime. Turns out, the judge ruled, he was pulling the gun in self-defense after the coach began punching him in the head.

Prosecution witnesses said Derkotch was the aggressor, the defense said coach Jermaine Wilson started it and Derkotch lost a tooth. Hey, it’s just like first grade! Only with a gun!

Assistant District Attorney Randy Hsia was disappointed with the verdict. But he did say this: “An individual cannot pull a gun in response to a fistfight.” Damn, there go my weekend plans.

Parent cleared in peewee-game fight [Inquirer]
Oct. 23, 2006: Outlaws, Raiders Somehow Involved In Fracas