NFL star Cody Latimer has been fired by the Washington Redskins after threatening to kill everyone at a poker game. The American athlete pulled out his gun and fired shots after being provoked over a sexual assault allegation involving his four-year-old son.
Cody Latimer Facing Ruin
The events took place at a private poker game organised by Latimer’s friend Roderick English.
Apparently an argument began over this alleged sexual assault, with accusations directed at one of the players. It got so heated that Latimer was asked to leave, which he did without much fuss.
However, in an uncontrollable rage he returned to the house only 30 minutes later and brandished a gun, threatening to kill everyone.
English thought he had managed to calm down the situation before Latimer once again lost his cool and fired off two shots without aiming at anyone. A fist fight then began between him and English.
Police eventually arrived, carting off Latimer to the cells facing a number of felony charges with the potential to wreck his career.
Cody Latimer Fired
Once the dust settled, Latimer must have been ruing what he had done. A high-profile sports star in the public eye cannot expect to behave like this no matter how provoked he felt.
Immediately he was placed on the Commissioner’s Exemption List. This barrs him from all practice sessions as well as games. The writing was on the wall.
This week the Washington Redskins bosses decided to terminate Latimer’s contract. This potentially ends his career, even if he doesn’t spend time behind bars.
Roster Update: We have released WR Cody Latimer.
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 23, 2020
Mitigating Circumstances
Facing felony charges of assault in the second degree, menacing, and illegal discharge of a firearm, a custodial sentence is likely.
That said, the mitigating circumstances might persuade the judge to be sympathetic.
ESPN reporter Adam Schefter said,
“Cody Latimer attorney, Harvey Steinberg, on his client’s arrest: ‘There’s an entire back story to this situation that constitutes one of the most highly provocative situations you can imagine. Please withhold judgment until all the facts of what took place that night are known.’”
Twitter was full of posters coming out in support of Latimer, claiming they would have done more if facing the same situation.
Schefter later clarified,
“At today’s hearing, Cody Latimer’s attorney, Harvey Steinberg, told the court he was contacted by law enforcement concerning an investigation of a sexual assault of Latimer’s 4-year-old son allegedly perpetrated by an individual at a weekend poker game.”
Latimer’s case was due to be heard over video link on August 20th 2020, but due to the COVID-19 situation the hearing was postponed until September 10th.
This is just the latest home poker game that went wrong. With US poker rooms still not all up and running as usual, people will be praying everything returns back to normal pretty soon.
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