A former Auburn football star’s shotgun slaying...
- Share via
A former Auburn football star’s shotgun slaying of his sister’s ex-boyfriend nearly 31 years ago was self-defense, the defendant’s attorney told a packed courtroom in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Defense lawyer Bobby Lee Cook said that Bobby Hoppe killed Don Hudson, 24, only after Hudson had drove up beside Hoppe’s car and pointed a .38-caliber revolver at him.
Hoppe, 53, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Hudson, who was slain in his car as he drove along a North Chattanooga street during the early morning of July 20, 1957.
At the time, Hoppe was a 22-year-old college student who had just finished his junior year at Auburn. The next fall, Hoppe, a star halfback, helped the Tigers to a 10-0 record and a tie for the only national football championship in the school’s history.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
