A travel softball program has cut ties with the people involved in a weekend brawl at a 12U game in Sugar Land, Texas. Illusions Gold Fastpitch announced the permanent dismissals Tuesday, days after a fight that left one father with a broken jaw, a fractured skull and three brain bleeds, according to his attorney.
- When and where: Saturday, Oct. 24, at Imperial Park in Sugar Land, a Houston suburb, during a game between 12-year-old select teams.
- How it started: Court documents say Kiarious Hall, attending his daughter's game, argued with another parent over cheering during the opposing team's at-bats. A second man then joined in.
- What video showed: Per the affidavit, Hall hit another father in the face with a metal water bottle, and the man fell and lost consciousness. The footage also shows Hall swinging the bottle at a second man before the argument turned into a full fight. Hall told police he'd been elbowed and poked in the chest and acted in self-defense.
- Second arrest: An officer's account of the video says Jazmine Hall joined in and threw punches. Bystanders eventually separated everyone.
- Injuries: The father hit with the bottle was hospitalized. His attorney, Steve Shellist, told ABC13 in Houston that he suffered a broken jaw, a fractured skull and three brain bleeds. Grandfather Gary Greaser, who stepped in, needed seven stitches for a chin cut.
- Charges: Both Halls were booked into the Fort Bend County Jail. Kiarious Hall was charged with assault causing bodily injury. Jazmine Hall was arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge involving bodily injury.
- Day job fallout: Jazmine Hall was an assistant principal at Lamar Junior High School. Lamar Consolidated ISD confirmed she resigned effective Monday, Oct. 26, after voluntarily reporting the incident to HR.
The Program's Response
Illusions Gold said the individuals involved are permanently dismissed and that the team is no longer associated with the organization. The statement said there is "no room for violence or hostility of any kind in our game."
The organization expressed support for the injured families and the young athletes who saw it happen, and thanked the people who stepped in to help and calm things down. Leadership is also talking with teams, coaches and parents across the program and restating its behavior standards, the statement said. It did not name those dismissed or outline further discipline.
The Halls have been arrested and charged, and the allegations come from court documents and the officer's description of the video.
Source: Softball On SI