Source: Associated Press
By Lisa Falkenberg
04/08/2005
CANTON, Texas - A man accused of shooting his son's high school football coach in the chest had been barred from the school after several earlier confrontations, including one where he was accused of shoving coaches at a picnic, authorities said.
Jeffrey Doyle Robertson, 45, went to the school just after classes started Thursday and shot coach Gary Joe Kinne, apparently with a .45-caliber pistol, police said.
The coach, who also is the school's athletic director, was in critical condition Friday at Trinity Mother Frances Health System in Tyler, said Lisa Morgan, the hospital's clinical coordinator.
Robertson — who has a tattoo on his arm of cartoon character Yosemite Sam brandishing two guns with the words "Born to Raise Hell" — was found in the woods with self-inflicted wounds, including cuts to his wrists and thigh, authorities said. He had two guns and
a pocket knife with him, Police Chief Mike Echols said.
Robertson was scheduled to be arraigned Friday morning.
Echols said Robertson had been barred from Canton High and told not to attend football games after several confrontations. One was at the annual football picnic, where he was accused of "shoving and verbally abusing" coaches, authorities said.
Police were investigating a possible motive. On Wednesday, Robertson's son, Baron, had apparently been banned from playing all school athletics, said Steve Smith Jr., a senior who was a defensive end and kicker on the team.
Smith's father described Robertson as "a very high-strung, hot-tempered individual" who threatened Smith Jr. last year — grabbing his shirt and pushing him up against a fence — over an on-field teasing. He said Baron Robertson, then a freshman, was walking off the field when some older students "razzed" him.
"This guy blew up," Steve Smith Sr. said. "He thought some kids were picking on his son. My son wasn't even the one who said anything. But he threatened to kill him."
Smith said he complained to the school and police, but Robertson was never charged.
Echols and Canton school district Superintendent Larry Davis said they were unaware of any previous threats.
Some parents had been upset that Kinne had made his own son the starting quarterback as a freshman, Smith Sr. said. G.J. Kinne received an honorable mention as quarterback in the Associated Press Sports Editors Class 3A all-state poll last season.
Rhonda Miller, a cousin of Robertson's wife, was among the relatives gathered outside the jail Thursday night to help support Robertson's wife and son.
Miller said she didn't want Robertson portrayed as "a lunatic" because he wasn't the only one frustrated with the school's athletic program.
"A lot of parents are upset. This is not a single incident, and if they don't take care of it, it could escalate," she said, declining to elaborate.
Robertson worked for six years for Dallas Plumbing Co., leaving in 2002 to start his own business with another man. Company President John Downs described Robertson as a good employee and a devoted father who enjoyed taking his son hunting and fishing.
The last time Downs saw Robertson was about six months ago, when Robertson had a broken leg, bruises and abrasions from a road-rage-related fight on the side of a highway, he said.
"The last conversation that I had with him was that he really needed to learn how to control his temper or he was going to get hurt worse than that," Downs said.
Canton is a town of about 3,500 some 60 miles east of Dallas, and is known for holding a huge flea market each month.
By Lisa Falkenberg
04/08/2005
CANTON, Texas - A man accused of shooting his son's high school football coach in the chest had been barred from the school after several earlier confrontations, including one where he was accused of shoving coaches at a picnic, authorities said.
Jeffrey Doyle Robertson, 45, went to the school just after classes started Thursday and shot coach Gary Joe Kinne, apparently with a .45-caliber pistol, police said.
The coach, who also is the school's athletic director, was in critical condition Friday at Trinity Mother Frances Health System in Tyler, said Lisa Morgan, the hospital's clinical coordinator.
Robertson — who has a tattoo on his arm of cartoon character Yosemite Sam brandishing two guns with the words "Born to Raise Hell" — was found in the woods with self-inflicted wounds, including cuts to his wrists and thigh, authorities said. He had two guns and
a pocket knife with him, Police Chief Mike Echols said.
Robertson was scheduled to be arraigned Friday morning.
Echols said Robertson had been barred from Canton High and told not to attend football games after several confrontations. One was at the annual football picnic, where he was accused of "shoving and verbally abusing" coaches, authorities said.
Police were investigating a possible motive. On Wednesday, Robertson's son, Baron, had apparently been banned from playing all school athletics, said Steve Smith Jr., a senior who was a defensive end and kicker on the team.
Smith's father described Robertson as "a very high-strung, hot-tempered individual" who threatened Smith Jr. last year — grabbing his shirt and pushing him up against a fence — over an on-field teasing. He said Baron Robertson, then a freshman, was walking off the field when some older students "razzed" him.
"This guy blew up," Steve Smith Sr. said. "He thought some kids were picking on his son. My son wasn't even the one who said anything. But he threatened to kill him."
Smith said he complained to the school and police, but Robertson was never charged.
Echols and Canton school district Superintendent Larry Davis said they were unaware of any previous threats.
Some parents had been upset that Kinne had made his own son the starting quarterback as a freshman, Smith Sr. said. G.J. Kinne received an honorable mention as quarterback in the Associated Press Sports Editors Class 3A all-state poll last season.
Rhonda Miller, a cousin of Robertson's wife, was among the relatives gathered outside the jail Thursday night to help support Robertson's wife and son.
Miller said she didn't want Robertson portrayed as "a lunatic" because he wasn't the only one frustrated with the school's athletic program.
"A lot of parents are upset. This is not a single incident, and if they don't take care of it, it could escalate," she said, declining to elaborate.
Robertson worked for six years for Dallas Plumbing Co., leaving in 2002 to start his own business with another man. Company President John Downs described Robertson as a good employee and a devoted father who enjoyed taking his son hunting and fishing.
The last time Downs saw Robertson was about six months ago, when Robertson had a broken leg, bruises and abrasions from a road-rage-related fight on the side of a highway, he said.
"The last conversation that I had with him was that he really needed to learn how to control his temper or he was going to get hurt worse than that," Downs said.
Canton is a town of about 3,500 some 60 miles east of Dallas, and is known for holding a huge flea market each month.
