What began as a night of celebration for South Oak Cliff High School ended in shock, confusion, and heartbreak.
Just hours after the Golden Bears captured a state championship, an 18-year-old South Oak Cliff football player was arrested following a shooting that left a teammate hospitalized. Dallas police say the incident occurred Saturday night, Dec. 20, inside a home in southwest Dallas where players had gathered after the team’s victory earlier that day.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit from the Dallas Police Department, officers responded to a shooting call around 9:32 p.m. in the 6400 block of Knoll Ridge Drive. Investigators believe the shooting was accidental and happened during a post-game gathering among teammates.
Police identified the suspect as Xavier Mayfield, an 18-year-old South Oak Cliff student and member of the football team who played in the championship game and recorded an interception. Authorities say Mayfield was holding a rifle in an upstairs bathroom when the victim, also a South Oak Cliff football player, called out to him from a nearby bedroom. As Mayfield turned, a single shot was fired, striking the victim in the neck.
The affidavit states that Mayfield attempted to help the injured teammate and began walking him downstairs, intending to take him to the hospital. A 911 call was placed shortly afterward when it became clear the victim was bleeding heavily. The injured player was transported to a hospital for treatment. As of the latest reports, his condition has not been publicly disclosed.
A witness inside the home told police that moments before the shooting, the teens were looking at photos from the championship game. The witness said Mayfield had been swinging the rifle and told others that the weapon’s safety was on before the gun discharged.
Mayfield was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is being held in the Dallas County Jail on a $50,000 bond. It is not yet known whether he has retained legal representation.
Dallas Independent School District officials have not commented publicly on the incident.
The situation has cast a somber shadow over what should have been a defining moment for South Oak Cliff’s program, its players, and the surrounding community. For a team built on resilience, unity, and shared achievement, the focus now turns away from trophies and celebrations toward healing, accountability, and concern for the young people involved.
As the legal process unfolds, the broader South Oak Cliff community is left grappling with a painful reminder of how quickly joy can turn into tragedy, and how much care and responsibility must surround moments meant to be remembered for all the right reasons.
