TCU football player Dozie Ezukanma was hospitalized for three days after allegedly being assaulted in the locker room by then-teammate Jacob Fields, according to a signed arrest warrant affidavit obtained by ABC affiliate WFAA in Dallas.
The affidavit states that Ezukanma suffered a brain bleed, a concussion and other injuries after Fields punched and kicked him in the head on Aug. 13 inside the Walsh Athletic Complex at TCU. Fields was later dismissed from the team.
Ezukanma told police that he lost consciousness and remembered only being in the training room, where teammates explained what had happened. The junior wide receiver reported a severe headache and ringing in his ears to TCU’s athletic trainer and team doctor. He was then taken to a hospital, where two CT scans confirmed a brain bleed.
A transfer from Louisiana Tech, Fields was arrested Sunday on a charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. His agent told ESPN’s Mark Schlabach that Fields turned himself in. He was released later Sunday on a $50,000 bond.
What the arrest warrant affidavit says
According to the affidavit, a teammate told Ezukanma that Fields punched him in the head and kicked him while he was on the floor. The teammate told TCU’s athletic trainer, “Dozie wasn’t paying attention. [Fields] just hit him.”
Ezukanma, who was looking at his phone when the incident occurred, told TCU police that he believed Fields attacked him because the two players had been competing intensely during training camp. Ezukanma had outperformed Fields in practice on Aug. 12, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit also states that Ezukanma provided a text message attributed to Fields, 21, who wrote that he “made an emotional decision cause how I felt played the last few practices” and expressed regret, saying, “I’ll pay every hospital bill and then some to make this right.”
Ezukanma was admitted to the hospital and transferred to intensive care after the first CT scan revealed a brain bleed. A third CT scan later that night showed that he was stable, but he remained hospitalized until Aug. 16.
Sonny Dykes addresses TCU incident
TCU coach Sonny Dykes addressed the incident after Saturday’s season-opening game in Ireland, saying, “It was something that was certainly out of character for the team and the young man that was involved. Look, you got 110 football players. I mean, things happen sometimes.”
Ezukanma did not travel with TCU to Ireland. The Horned Frogs will next play Grambling on Sept. 12.
