ST. LOUIS — One minute Dorian Artis said he was watching his daughter enjoy cheerleading practice at Sherman Park, but within moments that changed.
"We heard four or five shots," Artis said.
Many ran for cover after hearing the gunfire at the at the north St. Louis park in the Kingsway West neighborhood. It's near the intersection of North Kingshighway and Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.
However, Artis and other parents ran and saw Shaquille O'Shea, a volunteer football coach, had been shot.
"We all shot up the hill to see what's going on and we saw a man shot multiple times in the stomach. I was one of them who said let's get him out of here. Another woman, who's a nurse, started tending to his bleeding wounds," Artis said.
Police said shortly after 7 Tuesday night, the 30-year-old O'Shea and another man got into an argument when the suspect shot the coach near the football field in front of young players and parents.
"It's the problem of young men really don't know how to control their temper," Artis said.
Sherman Park is directly behind Wohl Recreation Center. For more than 50 years, the center has provided sports and a variety of other year-round activities for kids.
"I was really more upset than shocked because this kind of thing really doesn't happen here at our park. This is our safe haven and it's where everybody is supposed to come ... even parents to relax," Artis said.
A source said there were several dozen young boys practicing at the park with their coaches at the time of the shooting.
Police said after the crime, the 43-year-old suspect walked inside their North Patrol Division station and turned himself in.
The victim was taken to the hospital for surgery. Nobody else was hurt.
"The fact that he turned himself in indicates to me that he has remorse for what he did. I agree with parents that this just doesn't happen at Sherman Park. This is an exception, not the rule, but it's still traumatizing for the children," Alderwoman Sharon Tyus said.
The shooting happened just down the street from Tyus' home and in the 12th Ward.
"I'm sorry that happened to the coach. We are very fortunate that we have people like him who volunteer with the City Rec Program because there are a lot of young men who don't have role models," Tyus said.
Community leaders said O'Shea has been a popular, football coach and role model for kids for many years.
A spokesman for the mayor's office said for the past two years, O'Shea has volunteered with the "City Rec Legends Football Practice."
"I just hope he pulls through because the kids need him," Artis said.
"We just want to send love to the family from the city and say we're praying for the person who got shot. We understand he is doing well. I saw a Facebook post of him with his thumbs up saying he's a fighter," Tyus said.
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is offering counseling for those who witnessed the shooting at its headquarters on North Kingshighway, which will be held on Thursday from 5:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Evelyn Rice-Peebles, the commissioner of recreation, provided the following statement:
"The City of St. Louis Recreation Division remains committed to providing safe, productive spaces for our young people. The Division is disheartened by the brazen act of interpersonal violence that occurred last night at a CityRec Legends Football practice at Sherman Park. Violence in any space is devastating and unacceptable, but especially around our youth.
"The City is reaching out to community partners to ensure children, families, and staff who witnessed this incident are connected to counseling resources, and the Recreation Division remains in communication with public safety officials around future events. The Urban League has partnered with the City Of St. Louis to offer counseling to parents, youth and any coaches, tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 12th from 5:15 pm until 7:30 pm at The Urban League Headquarters at 1408 North Kingshighway."