Father of Moon club basketball player charged after coach for opposing team assaulted during game

BURGETTSTOWN, Pa. — The father of a Moon club basketball player is facing charges after video shows him allegedly jumping on a coach’s back and assaulting the coach during a game.

11 News has learned the parent of the player, Scott McMullen, is also a football coach for North Allegheny School District.

At this point, McMullen is still an assistant football coach at North Allegheny, but he is facing serious charges including strangulation, simple assault and harassment.

His lawyer said he’s surprised McMullen was charged.

“I was shocked and surprised that charges were actually filed against Mr. McMullen,” said Phil DiLucente, McMullen’s attorney.

Court documents filed today revealed McMullen is charged with several offenses because of a brawl at a kids’ basketball game this week.

On Monday, Pittsburgh Basketball Club hosted the game at Burgettstown vs. Moon. The match-up was between fifth graders, but one parent said it was anything but kid friendly.

In a video, you can see a Moon player wearing red and a Burgettstown player in white begin to scuffle. The two players then fall to the ground. That’s when the Burgettstown coach intervened. Then a man, now identified as McMullen, comes from the stands, grabs the coach by the neck and then punches him in the face.

“Disturbing, disappointing might be a better word. I am approaching the 30th anniversary of this league and we have never had anything of this happen,” said John Giammarco, head of the Pittsburgh Basketball Club.

The league has now banned McCullen from future games and suspended his son for one year.

North Allegheny School District would only say they’re gathering more information and will follow district policies.

“We are gathering more information and we will follow district policies to address any concerns,” said North Allegheny School District on behalf of Dr. Melissa Friez, Superintendent of Schools.

McMullen’s attorney argues he was just protecting his son.

“Let’s be very clear, from what I understand he was coming to the defense of his 10-year-old who an adult was laying hands on him,” DiLucente said.

The North Allegheny School District has not made any disciplinary recommendations for McMullen.

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