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TU basketball coach opens up about nephew killed by police in 2006

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TULSA — The University of Tulsa's men's basketball Head Coach Frank Haith talked to the media for the first time since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

READ MORE: George Floyd to be buried following Tuesday funeral in Houston

Haith opened the press conference by talking about his nephew, Sean Bell, who was killed by police in 2006, "I feel really guilty about it. I didn't use that platform to speak about it. I was ashamed."

Haith expressed that he has never talked about the tragedy with any teams he has coached, but decided to after Floyd's killing.

That's where I'm disappointed in myself, that I did not share with any of my teams. I didn't know if it was right. It's something that's been with me for a long time. I do feel better that I'm able to be strong enough to speak on it. Let's just say I've grown.
TU Head Coach Frank Haith

Five undercover New York City police officers shot and killed Haith's nephew, Sean Bell, on Saturday, November 25, 2006, according to NBC News. Bell was leaving his bachelor party in the borough of Queens when officers shot 50 bullets into Bell's car, killing him and wounding his friends. Bell was to marry his fiancee that same day.

On Monday, multiple Golden Hurricane players took part in a unity walk to Black Wall Street, honoring the lives of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.

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