Police: Football player accused in Waffle House attack was triggered by Instagram comments about 'boyfriend girlfriend stuff'

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ZACHARY — A fight at a Waffle House in Louisiana landed a Tulane University football player in jail and a teenage girl in a hospital, police said.

Zachary Police Chief David McDavid told The Advocate the early Monday morning fight that led to the arrest of Tyler Judson, a defensive back on the university’s football team, originated from an argument about a conversation on Instagram that was related to "boyfriend girlfriend stuff."

It is not clear whose relationship the argument was about, but McDavid said it appears to involve Judson and the girl he is accused of punching. Police did not identify the victim, but WWL-TV identified her as high school senior, Denisha Coleman.

Coleman's mother told the news outlet her daughter has many facial fractures and will likely need surgery around her eye and for a broken nose.

The woman also told the television station her daughter, who is now recovering at home, did not know Judson.

The fight started after a group of people went to a Waffle House in Zachary after a party, McDavid said. Officers arrested Judson after interviewing several witnesses, and determining he allegedly punched someone in the face, the Advocate reported. Another juvenile was also arrested on battery charges.

Another juvenile suspect was also arrested on simple battery, but it appears no one else was seriously injured during the fight.

McDavid said he was saddened by the incident, especially since he knew Judson, who grew up in Zachary and became a standout high school football player. He signed with Tulane before graduating from Zachary High School last spring.

He has now been indefinitely suspended from the Tulane football team.

“As additional information has now become available concerning his arrest earlier this week, Tulane football student-athlete Tyler Judson has been dismissed from the football program after initially being suspended following his arrest,” Tulane Athletics said in a statement. “Tulane will continue to hold our student-athletes, coaches and staff to the highest of standards.”

Judson was released on a $7,500 bond after his arrest on battery charges. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer who could comment on his behalf.