Cross Tupuola, the youth football coach who was repeatedly stabbed by NBA superstar Jaylen Brown‘s father, Marselles, has a “long, challenging” recovery ahead, his team said on Tuesday, per TMZ.
As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, Brown, who is a former boxer, was arrested and charged with attempted murder for the violent attack that occurred in Las Vegas on August 20.
“Cross Tupuola, our beloved brother, uncle, football coach, and proud father. Recently suffered a horrific tragedy that changed his life for him and his family in an instant,” the Las Vegas youth football organization shared on Instagram. “While Cross remains strong and fights daily, he now faces a long, challenging road ahead to recovery.”
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The team has since set up a fundraiser to help raise funds for Tupuola’s physical therapy and medical care as he recovers.
“With him being the sole provider of his family, this tragedy will affect his family’s financial situation tremendously,” the team stated. “Let’s help lessen the worry for his family, and get them as much help/support they can. Continue to lift Coach Cross and his family in your prayers, we appreciate you all.”
Brown is said to have repeatedly stabbed Tupuola during an altercation that took place at the All American Park parking lot.
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The victim’s girlfriend, in the arrest report, informed officers that the dispute stemmed from their car getting a ding from the door of a Lincoln Navigator as Brown was exiting that vehicle, TMZ Sports reported. She said that when Tupuola exited his vehicle to assess the damage, Brown downplayed what had occurred and claimed it was just a bump. She said Brown then referred to Tupuola as a “b*tch ass” before he began to leave.
The woman said the two men got into a verbal altercation before they agreed to a fight to settle their dispute. She said that Brown, who is 7’0″ tall and weighs 300 pounds, ended up stabbing Tupuola repeatedly when the victim was not facing him. She said that was after the suspect drew an object in his possession.
She said that Tupuola, who is 5’9″ tall and weighs 160 pounds, ultimately attempted to flee after he tried to fight back, but Brown pursued him. The woman said that she and the victim managed to drive away and called 911.
The report stated that Tupuola sustained “stab wounds in the upper right chest clavicle area, a defensive wound on his left hand that penetrated his tendons, a slice wound that necessitated a partial gastrectomy to remove part of his digestive system, eviscerated bowels, and a broken right rib that may require surgery to repair,” TMZ Sports reported.
Police ultimately located Brown, and he stated that the dispute stemmed from a door ding. The suspect also received medical attention for a broken toe, scraped knees and an abrasion on his right cheek.
During his arraignment, Brown’s lawyer, Arnold Weinstock, told the court that his client acted in self-defense, TMZ Sports reported. The attorney also told News3LV that Brown was pistol-whipped by Tupuola.
But witnesses claimed that Brown rather initiated the attack and was not defending himself.
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