UAB Football Player Faces Attempted Murder Charges After Team Stabbing
A University of Alabama at Birmingham football player has been formally charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault after allegedly stabbing two of his teammates in a shocking incident that occurred just hours before the team's scheduled home game.
Daniel Israel Mincey, whose custody photo has now been released to the public, was arrested on Saturday morning and remains held at Jefferson County Jail. The violent altercation took place at approximately 10am at the team's practice facility, sending shockwaves through the university community.
Victims in Stable Condition Following Hospital Treatment
Both injured players were rushed to hospital following the stabbing incident, with university officials confirming they are now in stable condition. The university has chosen not to release the names of the injured athletes, citing patient privacy concerns and the ongoing criminal investigation being handled by UAB Police and Public Safety.
In an official statement, the university expressed: "We're grateful to report that two players injured in an incident this morning at the Football Operations Building are in stable condition. Our thoughts are with them and their families as they recover."
The statement further confirmed that the suspect remains in custody and that investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the violent attack.
Team Decides to Play Despite Morning Trauma
Despite the traumatic events that unfolded earlier in the day, the UAB Blazers made the collective decision to proceed with their scheduled 2pm game against South Florida at Protective Stadium. However, interim coach Alex Mortenson revealed that several players chose to sit out of the match following the disturbing incident.
"The team as a whole decided that they wanted to play today," Mortenson stated during his post-game press conference. "But we did have several players who understandably chose to sit out - and we certainly respect that decision."
The emotional coach addressed the morning's events directly: "As you've heard, we have one player in police custody and two players who are in stable condition after sustaining injuries. More than anything, I'm grateful that those two players are in stable condition, and we will make sure that they have the support that they need."
Mortenson asked for privacy for the affected players and their families while acknowledging the team was collectively "lifting them and their families in your thoughts and prayers."
The game itself saw South Florida secure a dominant 48-18 victory over the undoubtedly distracted UAB team. Meanwhile, background checks reveal that Mincey had transferred to UAB after redshirting his freshman year at the University of Kentucky, though his motives for the alleged attack remain unclear as investigations continue.
