A teenage baseball coach was shot dead in a street attack in Minnesota Tuesday night while driving with his 15-year-old son, who was giving CPR until an ambulance arrived.
Jay Boughton, 56, was taking his son Harrison home from a baseball game he was practicing when he got into “some sort of argument” with another driver on Highway 169 in Plymouth, Minnesota at around 10pm Wednesday night.
It’s unclear exactly what happened, or whether one of the cars stalled, but the driver of the other vehicle – a brightly colored SUV – opened fire and shot Boughton in the head before driving away.
Boughton lost control of the car and crashed into a parking lot on a residential complex. His son Harrison gave him CPR until the paramedics arrived.
The shooter is still at large after spinning down the highway in a brightly colored SUV, possibly a Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, or similar vehicle.
Jay Boughton, 56, was taking his son Harrison home from a baseball game he was practicing when he got into “some sort of argument” with another driver on Highway 169 in Plymouth, Minnesota at around 10pm Wednesday night. His 15-year-old son (right on a 2016 family picture) had to give him CPR until the emergency services arrived
This is what was left of the coach’s car after the crash. He got off the street and crashed into the parking lot of an apartment building
This is the suspect’s SUV – a light-colored vehicle that police said could be a Ford or a Chevrolet Tahoe. The driver is still on the run
Boughton, an assistant coach for the Armstrong-Cooper Youth Baseball Association, has been described by friends as a “wonderful person” who “always had a smile”. He leaves behind a wife, son and 13-year-old daughter.
Boughton’s son was also treated in hospital after the crash, but has since been released.
Police said there was a “traffic-related altercation” prior to the shooting, which they described as a “pointless act beyond understanding.”
Friends on Wednesday mourned Boughton as a “pillar of the community” and engaged father whose family “would be hurt without him”.
Scot Cybyske told KSTP, “Jay was a pillar of our baseball community. Always positive, always clapping. The boys could be 15 runs behind and he encouraged individuals. He never raised his voice. Cool, calm and collected. ‘
Another friend, Joe Higgins, told the broadcaster, “I’ve let friends die, but I’ve never had a friend murdered and it’s just shocking to let them die this way. It’s hard to turn your head around. ‘
“So tragic. I couldn’t believe it happened the way to such a wonderful person, ”added Higgins. “Such a pointless crime. Not seeing him in the stands with us at the next ball game will be difficult. ‘
A close friend of Boughton told CBS that he was “just your typical American boy.”
“He grew up a boy scout and a boy scout,” said the friend. “He was a good father, a good family man. He was involved, a very dedicated father. His wife and children will only hurt without him. ‘
Plymouth Police Chief Erik Fadden held back tears as he spoke at a press conference: “This was one of the most tragic events I have seen in my 20 years in the police force.
Police have released still images from a surveillance camera on the suspect’s silver car
A still released by the Plymouth Police Department shows a silver car the driver of which is suspected of shooting at Boughton
Plymouth Police Chief Erik Fadden held back tears as he spoke at a press conference: “This was one of the most tragic events I have seen in my 20 years in the police force.”
“It was truly a pointless act that resulted in the loss of a human life and our thoughts and prayers go with family, friends and those affected by this terrible event.”
ACYBA President Dale Bjerke said Boughton had been an assistant coach on the 15UAAA team for the past three years and that his son had played in the league.
Boughton was also active in youth football.
In a statement, ACYBA said, “There were numerous emails shared today about Jay and what a wonderful coach, parent and husband he was.
“Jay was one of those people who would do anything for anyone with a smile, anytime. The ACYBA Board of Directors extends our deepest condolences to the Boughton family and those who knew them. ‘
In a letter to the families, Bjerke said that all 15 UAAA ball games have been canceled for the rest of the season.
The Plymouth Police, with assistance from the Minnesota State Patrol and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, are still searching for the shooter.
TEXAS TEENAGER DEAD AFTER BEING GOLF IN ANOTHER ROAD RAGE ATTACK IN THE WAY OF DIFFERENT BASEBALL GAMES
David Xavier Castro, 17, was shot in the head by a driver who “exchanged hand gestures” with his father on Tuesday night on the way home from the Houston Astros game.
A Texas teenager has died after being shot on his way home from another baseball game with his father in Houston on Tuesday night.
David Xavier Castro, 17, was shot in the head by a driver who “exchanged hand gestures” with his father on Tuesday night on the way home from the Houston Astros game.
The driver opened fire while David’s father was still driving and hit the teenager in the head.
The father stopped and called 911. David was taken to the hospital where he was life sustaining.
On Wednesday evening his father announced his death and said: “One of the gentlest souls walking the earth was taken from us today.
“Please give our family time to mourn and express their condolences via text message and phone. We are not ready to share our grief. David will be missing in a world that has barely known him.
“May God welcome him and give his soul peace”.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a press conference: “It doesn’t make sense for anyone on the street to get caught up in a situation where they have to draw a gun and start shooting again.
The suspect, described by Houston PD as a black man, remains at large. He drove this white Buick
“The reality is, if it happened this time, it could happen again. But there is far too much anger on the road and we will only stop it when people start reporting these people. ‘
The suspect remains at large. He drove a white Buick.
Houston police are now looking for the suspect, who was filmed on surveillance cameras while driving a white Buick.
“The father was driving on Chartres Street when he said he ran into the driver (suspect) of a white Buick sedan.
“The two drivers exchanged hand gestures and the suspect followed the victim’s vehicle onto the East Freeway and then on to McCarty Street.
“There the suspect fired multiple shots at the father’s truck and hit one of the male passengers at least once,” Houston PD said in a statement.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.