‘Gentle giant’ high school football player stabbed to death in Alabama, coach says
An 18-year-old high school senior and football player stabbed to death in Alabama was remembered as a “true alpha” and “leader” by his coach.
Robert Baldwin Jr. was found stabbed on Highway 83 in Evergreen on the night of Dec. 7, according to a Dec. 8 news release from the Conecuh County Coroner’s Office.
He was taken to the hospital and died, the office said.
“The death remains under investigation by this office and the Evergreen Police Department,” the county coroner said.
McClatchy News reached out to the Evergreen Police Department for more information but did not receive an immediate response.
Baldwin was a senior at Hillcrest High School-Evergreen, AL.com reported, and started on the defensive line for the football team.
“My heart is shattered to pieces,” the school’s athletic director and football team head coach, Justin Nared, wrote in a Facebook post. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to live out your life. Love you kid and you were loved by so many.”
Nared told AL.com Baldwin was a leader on and off the field.
“We were trying to get him some junior college opportunities,” Nared said. “If that didn’t work out, we were trying to get him signed up for the military. He was such a humble kid. He was strong as an ox, but was a big, gentle giant. I hate it for our community.”
Other football organizations joined Nared in remembering the player and the person.
“Please pray for Coach Justin Nared and the Hillcrest community. They lost a teammate, friend, and son last night,” Citronelle Wildcat Football wrote on Facebook.
“It’s a sad day here for our region,” Icons Sport Southeast wrote in a Facebook post. “We lost another kid to violence.”
Evergreen is about 80 miles southwest of Montgomery.
This story was originally published December 8, 2023 at 3:34 PM with the headline "‘Gentle giant’ high school football player stabbed to death in Alabama, coach says."
