In a shocking twist that rattled the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s football community, 20-year-old player Daniel Israel Mincey was arrested after allegedly attacking two teammates just hours before a scheduled game. Authorities say Mincey, who joined UAB in May after transferring from the University of Kentucky, is now facing charges of attempted murder and first-degree assault.
Campus police arrested him early Saturday at UAB’s Football Operations Building, where the incident is believed to have occurred. He was booked into Jefferson County Jail, where he remains held on a $90,000 bond. Court filings allege that Mincey attempted to intentionally kill teammate Jasire Peterson and severely injured another player, Joshua Underwood, using a knife.
A lawyer for Mincey’s family, David Bigney, said the situation is still unfolding and it’s too early to make any formal comments as evidence continues to be reviewed.
Despite the frightening events, interim head coach Alex Mortensen offered reassurance that both injured players have been treated and discharged from the hospital. He shared that they are recovering and in stable condition, adding that he had personally met with them and their families.
Mincey has since been removed from the team’s online roster.
Even in the shadow of the disturbing incident, the team decided to move forward with their scheduled matchup against the University of South Florida. Mortensen explained that the decision was made largely to honor senior players in their final game. He noted, however, that some players opted not to participate due to the emotional toll of the situation.
The UAB community is still processing the chaos of the weekend, with many awaiting further clarity as investigators continue to dig into the details behind the alleged attack.