Norzell Aldridge, a 36-year-old male, was a beloved youth football coach in Buffalo, New York. On the evening of August 31, 2019, at Emerson Park, a dispute broke out as a little league football game was concluding. Aldridge, who coached the Beast Elite Ducks, was walking his equipment to his car when he noticed the altercation.
Seeing a fight escalate, Aldridge intervened in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. A young man, Jason L.
Washington, Jr., who was 17 at the time, ran up to the fight and drew a handgun. Witnessing this, Aldridge used a football helmet he was carrying to strike Washington in an effort to prevent him from shooting. In response, Washington fired the weapon, striking Aldridge in the torso. Another young man, who was 20 years old, was also shot and injured during the incident. Norzell Aldridge was rushed to the hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries.
The community mourned the loss of the dedicated coach, with over a thousand people attending a memorial to remember him. In honor of his heroism and impact on the community, a portion of Koons Avenue near Sycamore Street was later named Norzell 'Nore' Aldridge Way.
Jason Washington was arrested and faced trial for the shooting. He claimed he acted in self-defense. In March 2022, a jury found Washington not guilty of murder but convicted him of several other serious charges, including first-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. The jury concluded that Washington did not have the intent to kill Aldridge. He was subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.
