Fulkerson, Nina Wit

September 18, 2008

Today’s date is September 18th, 2008, time now is 1009 hours. My name is Detective Terry Jones, Code #6354; I’m with Louisville Metro Police Department. This interview pertains to File #08-197; it is a death investigation involving victim Max Gilpin. We’re currently at 4400 Shelbyville Road; we’re outside in front of the Starbucks Restaurant. I am conducting this interview with Miss Nina Fulkerson.

Jones

Miss Fulkerson can you identify yourself?

Fulkerson

My name is Nina Fulkerson.

Jones

And, date of birth?

Fulkerson Jones

And, address?

Fulkerson

1709 Claremoor Drive, Louisville, Kentucky, 40223.

Jones

And, go ahead I’m sorry.

Fulkerson

My cell phone number is

Jones

Okay. Are you aware this interview is being taped?

Fulkerson

Yes, sir.

Page 2 of 7 Statement: Nina Fulkerson / Case #08197(l) September 18, 2008

Jones

Okay. And, this is relating to the uh, August 20th, practice at PRP High School. In which you were observing of the soccer match being taking place?

Fulkerson

Yes, sir.

Jones

Okay. Can you elaborate on what other details you seen that day?

Fulkerson

While I was at the soccer practice I uhm, I was facing the soccer field. And, behind me was the football field. And, there was young boys running in lines. And, while I was watching the soccer game there was a young boy that gotten distressed. And, he was sobbing and making a lot of noise.

Jones

Um-hum.

Fulkerson

And, crying and uh, he said I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe. And, another coach came over to him, there was at least 2 coaches, I saw. And, uh, one came over to him and told him uh, that he always gave 100%, 110% not to worry. You know, uhm its okay, but the guy kept saying, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe. The other players came around him, and that coach said, you know. Get away from him; go back to your business. And, uh, I’m, we’re gonna walk it off, he says come on we’re just walk it off.

Jones

Okay. And, then what happens after that?

Fulkerson

Well, I was a little concerned because I’ma nurse practitioner and I have advanced uhm, medical training. And, I felt that if somebody can’t breathe they should not be walking it off.

Page 3 of 7 Statement: Nina Fulkerson / Case #08197(l) September 18, 2008

So, I was kinda listening to see if I thought the guy was in real respiratory distress, or if he was just crying? I couldn’t ascertain that, and my husband told me to mind my own business. And, the guy walked to the end of the field, he was not assisted. And, he seemed like he did okay. Jones

Okay. And the fact that what you observed uh, you took it for to, to inquire as far as the welfare of the individual? Because of your uh, background?

Fulkerson

Yes, I, I felt really bad my, I wasn’t really sure if I should’ve come forward. And, and offered my assistance, and it you know, I’m new. Uhm, my daughter just started playing soccer, and I know there’s etiquette. And, you don’t interfere with a coach disciplining a team or something. And, I just wasn’t sure if it was like drama or really medical problem. And, the thing that I know about asthma and exercise induced asthma? Is that it is silent; some people don’t know they have it.

Jones

Right.

Fulkerson

And, I thought that the, I thought that the coach should’ve made the guy stop, count his pulse. And, count the number of respirations and ascertain in other ways. If he was truly in respiratory distress or if it was just emotional distress.

Jones

Now, as far as the training that was taking place, what was? What kind of training was being taken?

Fulkerson

(Cleared her throat)…

Page 4 of 7 Statement: Nina Fulkerson / Case #08197(l) September 18, 2008

Jones

Was taking place while you were there (inaudible)…?

Fulkerson

Just, the football players were running in uhm, and it was. It seemed to be excessively hot for the level of training. The guys were really, really sweat, water was just pouring off of ‘em? Uhm, they were running in relays, and a coach with a hat on was kind of taunting ‘em. Telling ‘em don’t worry about dropping out, if they drop out then their buddy would make the team. And, and they wouldn’t, they’d be doing their buddy a favor. So, I thought he was kinda pushing the kids hard.

Jones

Is this the person that you thought was in charge of the team at the time?

Fulkerson

I did think he might’ve been in charge.

Jones

And, he was described as what a white male?

Fulkerson

Yeah, white male, gosh I’d say near 6 foot, pretty built, pr…, big shoulders, and a floppy hat.

Jones

Uh, what color hat he was wearing?

Fulkerson

I don’t know?

Jones

Okay, okay. So, did you er…, did you observe anyone else getting sick or ill at the time?

Fulkerson

Uh.

Jones

Any other players?

Fulkerson

No, I really didn’t, (clearing her throat)…

Page 5 of 7 Statement: Nina Fulkerson / Case #08197(l) September 18, 2008

Jones

Okay.

Fulkerson

I saw just a lot of ‘em sweating and uh, I didn’t see anybody fall out, and be on the ground or anything.

Jones

Okay.

Fulkerson

And, this one guy who was having trouble breathing, that’s how he stood out. He was off to the side and he was bent over.

Jones

Okay.

Fulkerson

(Coughing)…

Jones

Did you see or did you ever hear any players being denied water by any coaches?

Fulkerson

I never heard of water mentioned to, to get water, to not get water.

Jones

Okay. Let me repeat that a trucker just passed uhm.

Fulkerson

I never heard somebody being denied to go get water.

Jones

Okay. And, my question was, did you ever see or hear of any player being denied water in your presence?

Fulkerson

I did not.

Jones

Okay.

Fulkerson

But, I heard, I heard this phrase say, if drop out you’re friend’s going to make the team and,

Page 6 of 7 Statement: Nina Fulkerson / Case #08197(l) September 18, 2008

and you won’t. Jones

Okay. And, what time were you there at the practice, what time was this?

Fulkerson

Uhm?

Jones

But, you were at the soccer game, correct?

Fulkerson

Uhm, uh, right I think it was after 6, I think it was like from 5:30 to, to 6:30 or 7.

Jones

Is that the time you arrived, between that time?

Fulkerson

Yes.

Jones

Okay.

Fulkerson

We had to drive around, we weren’t sure where we were at it’s big.

Jones

Okay. And, your position as it relates to the practice field was where?

Fulkerson

Uhm, I was in the middle of two fields, on the one side uh, to me it would. On the left would be the girls, and on the right was the boys.

Jones

So, you had the soccer game taking place, and you had the practice taking place on another field?

Fulkerson

Yes.

Jones

Along side of the soccer field?

Fulkerson

Yes.

Jones

Okay. And, how many people you think that

Page 7 of 7 Statement: Nina Fulkerson / Case #08197(l) September 18, 2008

were, that were present or spectators that day? Fulkerson

Gosh, you know I don’t know, but I guess maybe 30, 25, 30.

Jones

Okay. Mostly parents?

Fulkerson

Yes.

Jones

And, adults watching the soccer match correct?

Fulkerson

Yes.

Jones

Okay. And, your daughter plays for Waggener?

Fulkerson

Yes, she does.

Jones

Okay. All right, is there anything else I didn’t ask, anything else important I didn’t cover?

Fulkerson

I can’t think about it.

Jones

Okay. I thank you for you time ma’am, I’ll.

Fulkerson

Thank you.

Jones

We’ll go ahead and conclude this taped interview, time now is 1015 hours.

END OF STATEMENT File #08197ljones-dl