HS Football Player From Brooklyn Leads Team to NYC Title Despite Being Investigated for Attempted Murder

Rahmel Ashby is expected to go on trial soon.

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Complex Original

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High school football player Rahmel Ashby ran for 116 yards on 24 carries at Yankee Stadium on Sunday to help his Grand Street Campus high school team win the PSAL Championship Division title. And while it’s a hell of an accomplishment for him and his team, he’s also the reason a dark cloud is hanging over the Grand Street Campus squad right now.

Back in April 2014, Ashby was arrested on an attempted murder charge after he allegedly fired a gun into a crowd of people. Just six months later, he was arrested again on a gun possession charge. But because the Department of Education and PSAL don’t have any clear guidelines in place that call for players to serve suspensions during criminal investigations, Ashby was allowed to suit up for Grand Street Campus this season. And his teammates and coaches didn’t seem to have a problem with it.

“We never think about negativity at Grand Street Campus,” the team’s quarterback Sharif Harris-Legreetold the New York Daily News after the title game. “He’s a great kid, he’s qualified, and he’s our brother.”

This is tricky. On the one hand, Ashby hasn’t been convicted of any crimes—at least not yet—so it doesn’t seem like the DOE or PSAL would have much of a leg to stand on if they tried to suspend him. On the other, his story is obviously the only story anyone is talking about after the title game, so it seems like the DOE and PSAL need to figure out some way to deal with players who have serious criminal issues like Ashby. Either way, this whole situation isn't sitting well with many people right now.

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[via NY1]

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