New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd is in hospital fighting for his life after being shot in Manhattan during the early hours of Sunday morning. The shocking incident occurred just after the 29-year-old athlete had welcomed his first child, a poignant detail revealed by his head coach, Aaron Glenn.
Coach's Emotional Revelation and Positive Prognosis
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn shared his initial horror upon learning of the shooting. 'The first thing I thought about, he just had a kid,' Glenn stated, his concern immediately turning to Boyd's wife and newborn. Despite the severity of the situation, Glenn expressed strong optimism about the player's recovery, emphatically adding, 'I'm happy the fact that he's going to come out of this thing really, really well.'
Glenn confirmed he had spoken with Boyd 'shortly' after the traumatic event and found him in a remarkably positive mindset. 'That’s what eases my mind, is that he’s in good spirits,' Glenn explained. 'His wife and his kid, they’re in good spirits and he will walk away from this just fine.' While it remains unclear when Boyd will be discharged from hospital, the coach noted the player felt 'really upbeat,' a sentiment that provides considerable comfort.
The Early Morning Shooting Incident
The violent altercation took place at approximately 2am on Sunday outside Sei Less, a popular Asian-fusion restaurant in Manhattan frequented by celebrities like Cardi B and Mark Wahlberg. According to reports, the shooting near West 38th Street and Seventh Avenue followed a verbal dispute that escalated dramatically, culminating in a gunman firing two shots.
One of those bullets struck Kris Boyd and, as of Monday, was reportedly still lodged in his lung. The suspect responsible for the shooting has not yet been apprehended by authorities, and the investigation remains ongoing.
It is believed Boyd had been socialising at the venue with Jets teammates, linebacker Jamien Sherwood and wide receiver Tarik Black, before the group decided to leave. The departure was prompted by a tense atmosphere and a 'vibe' Boyd did not like, stemming from arguments between other groups at the restaurant.
Football Career Temporarily on Hold
In the wake of such a serious incident, questions about Boyd's future in the NFL are inevitable. However, Coach Glenn was clear that football is the furthest thing from anyone's mind at this moment. 'That's something I didn't even talk to him about,' Glenn said regarding Boyd's playing career. 'That's something that didn't need to be talked about at that time. There's a ton of time to talk about football after this incident happened.'
Glenn has since addressed the shooting with the entire Jets team, acknowledging the difficulty of such conversations. 'When things like this happen, it's easy for me to have conversations with a team but it's always hard to figure guys have either put themselves in this situation or are in this situation,' he reflected. 'You don't ever want something like this to happen. That's a scary situation.'
The entire organisation now waits and hopes for the full recovery of their teammate, a new father whose personal life has been violently interrupted.
