Miami football player shot in buttocks

SOUTH MIAMI, Fla., July 21 (UPI) -- A University of Miami football player was shot in the rear end early Friday outside his home.

Police in South Miami say that Willie Cooper and his roommates went outside at around 6:30 a.m. because they were suspicious of a car circling the home, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported. A shot was fired from the vehicle, giving Cooper a non-life-threatening wound in the buttocks.

Brandon Meriweather, a teammate, fired at the car as it fled the scene. Police say they do not know if Meriweather hit the car or any occupants.

Cooper, a 6-foot 1-inch, 211-pound linebacker, played mainly on special teams last year.