A peewee football game in Buffalo, New York ended in tragedy after a beloved coach was fatally shot while trying to break up a fight.
Norzell Aldridge, 36, died at the hospital after a shooting around 7 p.m. Saturday. The shooting happened near Emerson Park, where the football game Aldridge was coaching had just concluded. Adridge had stepped into a fight unrelated to the game in order to protect the young people involved when he was shot in the chest. A 20-year-old man was also treated at the hospital and released, according to WIVB 4.
Aldridge’s team had just played its first game of the season.
“It is devastating,” Buffalo Common Council President Darius Pridgen said. “He was one that a lot of parents would really depend on, especially single moms, to really help with their boys.”
“Some of the leagues got together right away and said, ‘We need to make sure people know this was a stand-up guy who was really helping our young people,’” Pridgen added.
Buffalo Police Captain Jeff Rinaldo said that police were unable to locate the suspect in the chaos of the moment and that they are seeking any information that could lead to an arrest.
“Buffalo Police has a detail set up at those football games, and our detail was there and at the event when this occurred,” Rinaldo said. “Our officers did hear the shots when they were fired. They did run in the direction of the shots, but in the ensuing chaos they were unable to locate a suspect at that time.”
