ASP investigating gun incident at WM involving FC coach

Arkansas State Police are continuing to investigate an incident involving a Forrest City Junior High basketball coach who allegedly carried a handgun to a game on the West Memphis Wonder campus in early December. Second Judicial District Prosecutor Sonia Fonticiella requested the investigation, according to Cindy Murphy, communications director for the Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Murphy said this week that the “investigation is ongoing.” The incident occurred on Dec. 5 and involves Kobe Wilson, who is listed on the Forrest City School District’s website as a teacher at Central Elementary School. He was also included on personnel list of hirings approved by the school board last fall as head coach for seventh grade basketball. FCSD officials refused to comment on the situation, saying, “That is a personnel matter and the FCSD cannot comment on personnel matters.” To date, the district has not taken any administrative action on Wilson’s employment. The Arkansas Department of Education website shows Wilson does not have a license to teach nor a waiver on file that would allow him to teach without a license. West Memphis School District Superintendent Eric Foister informed his school board members of the incident that night, via email. In that email, Foister said that during the eighth grade game some of the West Memphis students got heated and at least one of those students was escorted out but the game continued. Toward the end of that game, one of the WMSD’s resource officers “saw a FC Coach open his backpack and he saw a gun. He immediately confiscated the weapon and took the coach out into his patrol car.” Foister told his board members he was unsure what transpired after Wilson was removed from the gym. A WMSD administrator attending the game sent both teams to their locker rooms and cancelled the ninth grade game. “She communicated with our parents and explained that safety is number 1 priority,” Foister told his board. “FC fans and parents were extremely heated and made veiled threats of when we go to their games at FC later in the year.” Foister concluded the email by telling board members that it was his recommendation that West Memphis not make the trip to Forrest City and if the district was fined for that decision, “so be it.” According to the junior high basketball schedule, Wonder was not scheduled to play at Forrest City this season. The West Memphis Police Department did not file an incident report on the situation until Dec. 13. Wilson was reportedly detained at the game by West Memphis officers but was not cited or arrested, and was released on scene, according to a report by Arkansas1st.com Once the investigation has been completed, ASP will provide the information to Fonticiella who will make the decision on whether or not to proceed with the case.

ASP investigating gun incident at WM involving FC coach

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ASP investigating gun incident at WM involving FC coach

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