TAMPA — University of South Florida football player Hassan Childs, 22, was injured in a shooting Saturday night, Tampa police said.
Tampa police spokesman Lt. Steve Lee said the shooting started as a road rage incident.
About 11:15 p.m. Saturday, police received a call from a man later identified as Jovanni Jimenez, 26, saying that a man, later identified as Childs, pointed a gun at Jimenez and his wife and child at the Eagles Point Apartments at Tampa Palms, 14551 N 46th St.
Jimenez then pulled his gun and shot Childs, 22, in what he told police was self-defense. Childs was hit three times in the upper arm and torso, Lee said. Childs, a senior safety who practiced with the Bulls on Saturday afternoon, is in stable condition, according to the university.
It is unclear what started the argument. The case has been forwarded to the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office to determine whether charges should be filed.
"Thankfully Hassan is in stable condition and being well cared for, and no one else was injured," USF head coach Charlie Strong said in a statement. "There is an ongoing investigation of the incident and we are in the process of gathering further information.
"Out of respect for the integrity of the investigation, we cannot comment further at this time."
Jimenez was arrested two years ago on misdemeanor domestic violence charges, but wasn't prosecuted, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office records. He was arrested in February 2012 on misdemeanor charges of opposing an officer without violence, and later pleaded no contest.
Childs has no criminal record in Florida.