H.S. Basketball Coach Fired After Players Throw Tortillas At Latino Opponents
H.S. Basketball Coach Fired After Players Throw Tortillas ... At Latino Opponents
UPDATE
8:12 AM PT -- 6/23 -- Coronado H.S. hoops coach JD Laaperi has been fired from his job following the alleged racist incident ... with the school board voting unanimously to part ways at a meeting Tuesday night.
UPDATE
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Laaperi allegedly hurled cuss words at an Orange Glen staffer after the game ... saying, "That’s why you don’t talk (expletive). Get your kids and get the (expletive) out of here."
UPDATE
The report adds at least two of Laaperi's players were seen on video footage throwing tortillas during the incident.
UPDATE
Laaperi tweeted out an apology over the tortillas on Sunday ... saying, "Unfortunately a community member brought tortillas and distributed them which was unacceptable and racist in nature."
UPDATE
"I do not condone this behavior. Coronado High School does not condone this behavior and is already taking appropriate action."
UPDATE
The incident is still under investigation by school officials and law enforcement.
Ugly incident at a boys high school basketball game in Southern California over the weekend ... when opposing fans and players from a predominantly white school fired tortillas at a largely Latino hoops team after a heated playoff game.
It all went down at the CIF championship game between Coronado H.S. and Orange Glen H.S. Saturday night ... where Coronado eeked out a 3 point win in a hotly contested game.
According to reports, instead of celebrating with class ... some Coronado fans (and reportedly several players) began hurling the traditional Mesoamerica food at the Orange Glen players as they stood on the court only moments after the devastating 60-57 loss.
Many people have described the obviously pre-planned attack as being racist.
On Sunday, Coronado's superintendent released a statement addressing the "reprehensible" incident.
“Swift action will be taken to address all those involved, and they will be held accountable. it is our hope to create opportunities to dialogue with the orange glen community in an attempt to repair.”
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) -- which oversees H.S. hoops -- also addressed the ugly situation, saying their org. "prohibits discrimination" ... and vowing to investigate and "determine the appropriate next steps."
The Coronado school district also announced they will hold an emergency board meeting on Tuesday.
Story developing ...
Originally Published -- 6/21 10:14 AM PT
