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Ex-Hawks Standout OK After Shooting
Tribune photo by ROBERT BURKE
Former Armwood star lineman Matt Patchan will apparently recover fully from a gunshot wound suffered on Firday.
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Published: May 13, 2008
TAMPA - University of Florida lineman Matt Patchan and former Armwood teammate Wesley Skiffington were shot at Sadie Park in Brandon on Friday night, but their injuries were not life-threatening.
Debbie Carter, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman, said Skiffington and Patchan were at the park with a group of friends at 9:58 p.m. when another group of individuals approached them. Carter said an unknown black male, described as between 6-foot and 6-4 and 220 pounds, started shooting at the crowd.
Patchan was shot in his shoulder, while Skiffington was shot in his foot. Carter said the suspect fled into an unknown vehicle and the Sheriff's Department's investigation is currently ongoing.
Both victims were transported by ambulance to St. Joseph's Hospital and eventually released.
Florida football coach Urban Meyer, in a statement released by the university, said Patchan is expected to make a full recovery.
"Matt Patchan was a gunshot victim Friday night at a Tampa area park," Meyer said. "He was a bystander and shot in the left shoulder and is expected to fully recover in three weeks."
Patchan, 6-7 and 265 pounds, committed to Florida in January, just weeks after graduating from Armwood for early enrollment. He was ranked the No. 11 recruit in the nation by Rivals.com and was named an All-USA Today first-team selection. Skiffington, a kicker, signed with Division I-AA Stony Brook in February.
Calls left for Patchan and his family were not returned. Skiffington also was unavailable for comment.
Armwood football coach Sean Callahan said he talked to Patchan on Sunday.
"He said he was OK, but that's Matt Patchan talking," Callahan said. "I don't know. I'm not a doctor."
From his conversation with Patchan, Callahan said his former lineman was not looking for trouble.
"He just said he was there at the time with his buddy," he said. "I don't know if they were hanging out playing basketball or what. He said some kids walked up, and Matt saw the guy pull the gun. He said he started running away and the kid shot him in the back, in the shoulder."
Armwood football players Mywan Jackson and Rob Jones, teammates of Patchan and Skiffington last season, said they were shocked when they heard the news.
"My mind went blank when I heard it," Jackson said. "I can't even fathom being shot at, to tell you the truth. I can't even fathom being pulled a gun on, to tell you the truth. It is that disturbing. Your life could be taken away in an instant, in a couple of seconds. And your football career could be gone in a couple of seconds."
Added Jones: "It's crazy. Anything can happen at any time. ... That could have been anybody."
Callahan said Patchan was expected to have the bullet removed on Monday at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, but the coach was unaware if that happened. Callahan said the bullet that struck Skiffington passed through his foot.
Anybody with information about the shooting is encouraged to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at (813) 247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 873-8477.
Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848 or nwilliams@tampatrib.com. Reporters Adam Adkins and Anwar S. Richardson contributed to this report.
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