Three Suspects Charged in Shooting at Katy Youth Baseball Field; Coach Wounded During Pre-Game Prayer
Arrests announced after shots fired from a nearby pasture at The Rac; organizers vow heightened security for future events as investigators review the incident.
Three men have been charged with deadly conduct with a firearm after a shooting at Ameripark’s The Rac in Katy, Texas, during a pregame prayer with youth baseball players. Mahmood Abdelsalam Rababah, 23; Ahmad Mawed, 21; and Mustafa Mohammad Matalgah, 27, were taken into custody and are each held on $100,000 bond, the Waller County Sheriff’s Office said. The gunfire wounded a Houston-area youth baseball coach who was standing with players when the shots were fired.
According to investigators, three people fired from a nearby pasture toward the field as a 12-year-old Texas Colts game continued. Video reviewed by authorities showed players in light-blue jerseys running for cover as bullets passed near home plate. The coach was struck in the shoulder and treated at the scene before being transported to a hospital, where he was released later that same day.
Owners of The Rac Katy attributed the shooting to recreational shooting on a nearby property, and confirmed the coach is a member of the local baseball community. The Waller County Sheriff’s Office said the suspects were charged with deadly conduct with a firearm in connection with the incident; all three remained in jail on $100,000 bonds as of the latest update.
Houston Warriors founder Andy Baize told KHOU-TV that the coach’s first instinct was to protect the children, saying he literally took the bullet for a child as players scrambled. A parent who spoke to FOX26 Houston anonymously expressed safety concerns, saying some families may choose not to return. In a statement, The Rac Katy said it would implement enhanced security measures for all tournament weekends and cooperate with local law enforcement as the investigation continues.
Officials stressed that the investigation is ongoing and reconstruction of events is underway. The shooting underscores ongoing concerns about gun violence near youth sports facilities in the region, and community leaders emphasized the need for safety measures at all future events.
