A longtime coach of a high school basketball team was shot dead. Reports say the coach, Charles Knott, had been a respected member of the Detroit Cody High School community for 20 years; Knott was the longtime girls' basketball coach.

Cody high-school football coach Donald Anderson told press "It's a shame. Coach Knott took pride in his job. A lot of people don't know but he also coached softball, too. Many of his former players kept in contact with him, some on a daily basis."

Anderson appeared upset for the loss, saying "He was the kind of guy who would make sure his players did their chores at home. He cared about them."

Knott first joined the school district after he got out of the Army. At first, he was a janitor, then became a coach. Knott's cousin said of him, "He loved to be around kids. Even when he was working as a janitor, he was always talking to kids," she said. "He was very outgoing and direct. So if they were doing something wrong he would check them. They related to him because he just talked to them in their language."

Another coach, George Ward, said "It's unbelievable. [...] I've heard of a lot of bad stuff. This is as shocking an incident as you will ever get." Coach Knott was a well-loved member of the community, he told press, and there was no immediate motivation for the violence that lead to his death.

"No one ever said anything bad about Charles. We need to bring attention (to the violence). A lot of coaches are fed up," Ward said.

A Detroit Police report reveals that the gunman was sitting in another car, advanced on the coach's car, and fired several rounds. Knott had pulled up in front of his apartment building and had not left his car when he was shot.

Bryant Tipton, former Cody education technical director, also expressed regret and confusion. "One of his former players called me this morning about (the shooting). [...] I was told he was in his car. You might think it was a robbery but why didn't they take his car?" he asked.

Knott was the father of two adult daughters. Detroit Police Officer Cassandra Lewis stated that there is currently no known motivation or suspects in the shooting that left the longtime basketball coach dead.