A former Iowa State University basketball player is facing charges for being involved in a shooting that stemmed from an argument over a racial slur.
Hurl Beechum III, age 42, who played basketball for ISU from 1992 to 1995, was at his mom and step dad’s rental home in Glenwood, Iowa Sunday, September 27, 2015 when he was called to come help with an argument his step dad had become involved with, according to an affidavit filed with the Clerk of District Court in Mills County.
Beechum’s step dad and his mom had been in their driveway cleaning their car before 5:45 p.m. when a group of six people walked past their home. One of the people in the group was talking on the phone and “uttered a racial slur,” according to the affidavit. The step dad caught up to the group and asked why they used the racial slur.
According to the affidavit, after confronted the group, an argument began. Beechum’s mom then called for him to come help his step dad. The argument began to escalate to a fight and people from the group started creating a buffer in between Beechum’s step dad and 21-year-old Colton McDaniel, who had gotten into “an aggressive posture,” the affidavit said.
Police said when Beechum got to the group, “an altercation ensued” and 18-year-old Denver Cook punched Beechum’s step dad in the face, and later admitted to knocking him out.
“Cook and McDaniel then began to physically assault Beechum by kicking and punching him,” the affidavit said. Beechum was taken to an area hospital to be treated for multiple abrasions and a laceration to the back of his head.
The affidavit indicated that when Glenwood Police arrived, Beechum, his mom and step dad were there, and Beechum held out his hands with a handgun and said “they jumped us so I had to shoot him.”
McDaniel was shot and suffered an injury to the outer side of his left thigh and right ankle, according to the affidavit. He was taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Cook and McDaniel, both from Glenwood, Iowa, were charged with assault causing bodily injury. In addition, Cook was charged with willful injury.
Beechum, from Queen Creek Arizona, was charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon, willful injury, going armed with intent, and two counts of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon.
