A youth baseball tournament in Katy, Texas turned into a scene of chaos and panic over the weekend when gunfire suddenly rang out during a pre-game prayer. What was supposed to be a safe, family-friendly sporting event ended with a coach shot, children running for cover, and three men in handcuffs.
The shooting happened at The Rac Katy, a local sports complex where teams from across the region had gathered. According to the Waller County Sheriff’s Office, the gunfire came from a nearby pasture — about 600 to 700 yards away — where three men were allegedly engaging in what they described as “recreational shooting.”
But this was no harmless target practice.
Officials say bullets flew toward the field, just as a coach and a group of young players were bowing their heads in prayer. One of those bullets struck the 27-year-old coach in the shoulder.
Witnesses say the coach immediately acted to protect the kids. Andy Baize, founder of the Houston Warriors baseball organization, said the coach shielded one of the players from harm. “He literally took the bullet for a child that was to his left,” Baize said. Even after being hit, the coach helped get the kids to safety.
The scene quickly spiraled into panic. Coaches, umpires, and families sprinted for cover as more bullets struck nearby. A livestream of the game captured the moment chaos broke out. Some rounds reportedly hit a light pole near the field.
First responders airlifted the wounded coach to the hospital. A bystander used a belt as a makeshift tourniquet to stop the bleeding before help arrived. Miraculously, he was treated and later released.
The three suspects — Mahmood Abdelsalam Rababah, 23, Ahmad Mawed, 21, and Mustafa Mohammad Matalgah, 27 — have each been charged with felony deadly conduct with a firearm. A judge has set their bonds at $100,000 apiece.
For many at the tournament, the emotional impact is still sinking in.
Alex Smith and Corbin Geisendorff, coaches for the Texas Colts 12U team, said they had heard gunfire the day before — but thought it was distant. This time, they knew it was different.
“There were bullets flying everywhere … onto the field, off the poles,” Geisendorff said. “We’ll never be back there.”
A 27-year-old coach was struck in the shoulder by a stray bullet during a youth game at The Rac on FM 2855 this morning.
He received immediate care on-site and was airlifted to a Houston hospital in stable condition.
Reports indicate the bullet may have originated from the Katy… pic.twitter.com/vfk2VQllC7— Cathlina King
(@AmeraucanaLover) September 22, 2025
(@AmeraucanaLover) Smith became emotional as he recalled the moment the shots started. “I’ll never forget their little faces,” he said. “Our team was about to take the field. Our kids were out, ready to go. And then shots started being let go. They ducked down, got in line, and they trusted us. Thankfully, we got them to their parents.”
The coach who was shot reportedly told doctors after surgery, “I need to leave because I have to go coach my kids at 3 p.m.”
JUST IN: Three males with Islamic names arrested after youth baseball coach shot during pregrame prayer in Katy, TX
Mahmood Abdelsalam Rababah, 23
Ahmad Mawed, 21
Mustafa Mohammad Matalgah, 27All charged with Deadly Conduct – Discharge of a Firearmpic.twitter.com/d6uff0eTQV
— Border Hawk (@BorderHawkNews) September 25, 2025
The Rac Katy has since suspended all games and released a statement promising a full review of the incident alongside law enforcement. They say they’re committed to doing everything possible to make sure this never happens again.
But questions still remain.
How did gunfire from nearly half a mile away end up endangering children? Were safety protocols ignored? And why did it take a near-tragedy for these concerns to be taken seriously?
More updates are expected as the investigation continues.
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