A former University of Louisville coach is prohibited from campus after shooting his gun outside a downtown hotel.
Attorney Larry Wilder told WHAS11 News that his client Todd Sharp, who was the Louisville dance team coach until he was fired in December 2018, accidentally shot himself in the leg Jan. 24 outside of the Marriott.
The Louisville baseball program was holding an event when Wilder says that Sharp got out of an Uber, reached into his pocket for his phone and accidentally discharged his gun. He was taken to University Hospital for non-life threatening injuries, according to WAVE 3 News.
“Todd Sharp has the same second amendment rights as every Kentuckian, every Hoosier, every American, to carry a gun,” Wilder said, noting that Sharp is still recovering from the shooting and didn’t know about the baseball event. “Todd Sharp has the absolute right to go to any public place he chooses to go to do the business that public place is held out to do.”
Louisville Metro Police Department sergeant Lamont Washington said that the case is closed after there was no sign of anything nefarious.
Louisville athletic director Vince Tyra emailed university staff Monday that there is no evidence of a threat, but that Sharp is prohibited from campus.
“Earlier today, the university issued a persona-non-grata notice for former head dance coach Todd Sharp, prohibiting him from attending public and private university-related events, whether on or off campus, or from visiting our offices,” the email said, according to WAVE 3 News. “Should you spot Mr. Sharp on or around campus, please immediately contact 9-1-1.”
Sharp was fired in December 2018 after a sixth-month review of the dance program showed about $29,372 of revenue missing between May 2016 and October 2018, according to the Courier-Journal.
Sharp coached the Louisville Ladybirds for 16 years and was the star of a Lifetime reality television series called “So Sharp,” which followed the Ladybirds. Sharp also resigned from coaching the Floyd Central Dazzlers high school dance team in 2018, according to the Courier-Journal.
Sharp’s Twitter account posted Monday night for the first time since February 2018, saying “FAKE news instigated by a FAKE AD and his corrupt administration. It’s time for fans and the public to hear the truth. Silent no more. Stay tuned.”
