An argument over sports at a grocery store’s distribution facility in Memphis turned fatal for an assistant Mississippi high school football coach.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that Jarcoby Hopson, Sr., 39, was brutally stabbed to death at the Kroger Delta Memphis Distribution Center on Thursday. Hopson is listed as a defensive backs coach at Lake Cormorant High School. He is also the father of recent Ole Miss linebacker signee, Jarcoby Hopson, Jr.
Hopson is said to have gotten into an altercation with a coworker. The two were reportedly in a heated discussion about football when things turned violent.
According to a report from WREG, witnesses at the scene accused Hopson of approaching Todd and inviting him into an area of the facility where no cameras were present so that the pair could fight. Per witnesses, Todd refused Hopson’s invitation.
Hopson then allegedly lowered Todd’s skull cap over his face, covering his eyes. That’s when tensions are said to have escalated with Todd using what turned out to be lethal force.
After Todd stabbed Hopson multiple times, the victim backed away and fell onto the floor just before bystanders could intervene and break up the fight. Todd reportedly went into the break room and awaited the arrival of law enforcement.
“Coby got into it with a dude over football. They started tussling and the man got a knife and stabbed him once in the thigh, three times in the stomach, and cut his throat,” Tasha Watkins, the victim’s cousin, told the Memphis TV news station.
Anderson Todd, 55, has been charged with Second Degree Murder. https://t.co/x9y2NWeuRL https://t.co/FCBk5XXm4z pic.twitter.com/b4jIL1IycJ
— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) December 27, 2024
Police arrested Anderson Todd, 55, and charged him with second-degree murder in connection with Hopson’s death. He is being held at the Shelby County Jail with no bond set at this time.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the fatal incident. In the meantime, Kroger has offered counseling services to associates at the distribution center who were impacted by the occurrence.
