Ex-UT football player hurt in shooting

5/8/2012

A former University of Toledo football player, who was booted from the team last summer after being charged with assault, told police he was shot in the leg Monday night in a drive-by.

Isaiah Ballard, 22, was treated for the gunshot wound at the University of Toledo Medical Center, former Medical College of Ohio. His condition was not immediately available.

Mr. Ballard told police he was at Elmdale Court and Mercer when an individual pulled up in a vehicle and yelled, “Hey.” Mr. Ballard told police he started to run when he saw a gun, but was shot in the right leg near his knee. He reported to police that two women came out of a house to help him and he was taken to the hospital by his sister.

Mr. Ballard was released from the UT football team in May, 2011 after he punched a man in the face several times, sending the victim, Carlos Ruiz, to the hospital with a broken jaw. Mr. Ballard, who was a senior starting defensive back, was found guilty and sentenced to 30 days in the Correctional Center of Northwest Ohio but all those days were suspended.

Mr. Ballard transferred to the University of Findlay for his senior season.