Coach detained at North High School after threatening driver with fake gun, police say
North High School was placed on a secure perimeter Wednesday while the varsity track coach was arrested in the parking lot, according to a letter sent to parents from the district.
According to a probable cause statement for his arrest from the Denver Police Department, Youshi Kirkland threatened another driver with what turned out to be a fake gun. Kirkland has been placed on leave, the district said in its letter to parents.
The victim, an 18-year-old driver, was headed east and getting ready to turn into the high school parking lot when the incident happened around 4 p.m. Wednesday. A 15-year-old and a 10-year-old were also in the car.
According to the PC statement, the driver of another vehicle passed the victims and honked before flashing a “black handgun” at the victims, “putting them in fear for their lives.”
The victim quickly drove away and notified staff at the school. The other driver, later identified as Kirkland, drove to the back of the parking lot where he parked, according to the document.
For more on this story, and others, visit The Denver Gazette’s news partners, 9News
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