It’s just the latest case of youth sports parents gone bad, but it’s a particularly disturbing one: A man is accused of shooting at the father of a California Little League t-ball division player as he attempted to drive away from the field.
As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, 23-year-old Vallejo resident Joshua Chi was arrested on Thursday and charged with attempted murder and violation of his probation.
The newspaper gave no indication as to what caused the argument between Chi and the intended victim, nor did it disclose what Chi had earned a probation for, but the incident understandably sent shock waves throughout the Northern California youth sports scene, with the North Vallejo Little League canceling games for a number of days following the shooting.
"It is our every intention to remain strong and vigilant against any negative influence within our fences," North Vallejo Little League wrote on its Facebook page. "Even though we know we will sometimes disagree, we will strive to maintain calm, mutual respect and self-dignity while resolving all conflicts."
According to the Chronicle, the two men began arguing in the parking lot adjacent to the North Vallejo Little League complex. As the argument began to become more heated, the father in question quickly retreated to his car and attempted to drive away, only to allegedly be fired upon by Chi.
While the true roots of the shooting may remain a mystery for some time, the fact that Chi is no longer at large will serve as a comfort to a number of Northern California parents, particularly those whose children find themselves running on sports fields. Regardless of one’s feelings about gun laws, it seems safe to assume that all would hold handguns belong nowhere near a Little League diamond.
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