Josh Shaw jumped from balcony because he feared racial profiling from police

USC defensive back Josh Shaw will always be known as the guy who lied about saving a life to cover up his own poor judgment. Shaw, who over the summer claimed that he injured both of his ankles jumping off a balcony to save his nephew from drowning, opened up about his costly mistake in a recent interview with Bill Plaschke of the LA Times.

For starters, Shaw admitted that he jumped off a third-story apartment balcony after an argument with his longtime girlfriend Angela Chilton.

“We just got into an argument just like every couple does,” he explained. “Was it loud? Yes. Was it overly loud? I don’t think so.”

Shaw and Chilton both maintain that the argument never turned physical, but a neighbor called the authorities anyway. Police are still investigating the incident for possible domestic violence, though Plaschke reports that it is unlikely any charges will be filed.

So why did Shaw put himself at such a great risk just to get out of the building? The 22-year-old says he feared being racially profiled by police.

“We were not on good terms when she left, I thought she had somebody call authorities. I was thinking the worst,” he said. “If she did say anything, I’m a black man with dreadlocks, and with everything going on in the country at the time, all that stuff in St. Louis [Ferguson, Mo.] … in my mind, I’m going to leap from the balcony so authorities did not see me.”

Shaw later explained that he was certain he had broken both legs and his season was over. He claims he would not have made up the lie about saving his nephew if he knew the injuries weren’t that severe.

“I was in excruciating pain,” he said. “But I thought, how do I explain to my coaches that, as a senior captain, I just shattered both of my legs?”

Shaw has been in limbo while the investigation continues. He expressed a great deal of regret in Plaschke’s feature, which is worth reading in its entirety.