Details emerge in the Missouri male cheerleader beatdown case

Here’s your update on the two Missouri women’s basketball players who are accused of beating up a male cheerleader at a house party. (Your reaction: “FINALLY!”). The two athletes have been reinstated to their team, and no charges will be filed, mainly because the male cheerleader, Justin Short, is refusing to press charges. But in a stunning development, Short has now been suspended indefinitely from MU’s cheer squad for a “violation of team policies,” according to athletic department spokesman Chad Moller.
Because it seems that the two players were simply defending a female friend from being choked by Short. Details following the jump.

Betsy Hanneman told the Tribune her daughter, Betsy Hanneman, and Jessra Johnson felt their friend was in physical danger before they fought with Short and allegedly left him with a broken nose and an eye injury.

According to Betsy Hanneman, her daughter, Johnson, Short and one of his two female roommates are friends. She said the four had been out at a bar in the hours after Missouri beat Texas Pan-American 83-34 on Thursday night before heading to Short’s apartment at 36 N. Cedar Drive.

Betsy Hanneman said a large gathering had developed when Short’s other roommate came out of her room and said she was trying to sleep.

“That’s when everything fell apart,” Betsy Hanneman said. “Justin, according to the girls, got very upset. They don’t know why, but he just kind of lost it and started yelling.”

Betsy Hanneman said Short pushed the players’ female friend, causing Johnson to push him back.

“He got madder and knocked” the female roommate “down, had her down with his hand around her throat,” Betsy Hanneman said. “She said she was screaming bloody murder, saying, ‘Get off me, get off me,’ and Amanda popped him in the nose. He got off of her.”

Boom goes the dynamite.

Short, a senior at Missouri, is a cheerleader for the Tigers’ football and men’s basketball teams. He was also a cheerleader for the women’s basketball team last season.

Then there’s this, from Tiger Extra:

Johnson told police she shoved Short, while Hanneman, according to police, admitted she “pinned him against the wall, slapped him and punched him.” But the two players told police they were attempting to come to the defense of a female friend. The friend said Short, one of her two roommates, had called her names and pinned her to the floor.

According to Tiger Extra, Short had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. That’s going to be a great story to tell to somebody else’s grandkids one day.
Not sure where Mr. Short is located in this photo, but I assume he’s there.
I just pray that Truman the Tiger is not involved in this mess.
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Injured MU cheerleader suspended [Columbia Daily Tribune]
Suspended MU players reinstated to team [Tiger Extra]