High school coach allegedly shoots dead an assailant

A high school basketball coach in Michigan has allegedly shot to death one of two men who assaulted him as he was taking two student athletes to their cars at school parking lot. Police say that the male coach was escorting two girls to their vehicles at approximately 7:30 pm February 3 when two men approached. One of the assailants produced a pistol and yanked the coach's necklace. In response, the coach pulled out his own gun and shot both of them. The coach is 70 years old.

The killing took place at Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High school in Detroit. One of the assailants was found dead in the median of nearby Lafayette Boulevard.  The second assailant is being treated at an area hospital. Both of the alleged attackers had attended the high school where the shooting took place. One of the pair had been recently expelled.

According to Channel 7 WXYZ television news, the coach was in possession of a license to carry a concealed pistol. He is also a reserve police officer. Currently, he is cooperting with local authorities.

The Detroit Public Schools in a statement declared  "We are very relieved that all students and DPS personnel and representatives involved are safe and were unharmed. Preliminary reports are that shots were fired during an attempted robbery of a member of the coaching team of the school’s girls basketball program by two assailants outside the school. There was one fatality and one injured suspect in serious condition."

Steve Wasko, DPS spokesman, said in the statement, "The school has many security features which were in place at the time of the incident as well as a full security plan as do all DPS schools. These will be reviewed as the regularly are after any incidents."