{
  "id": 11508606,
  "title": "Lawyers for LSU football player accused of rape maintain his innocence",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/lawyers-for-lsu-football-player-accused-of-rape-maintain-his-innocence",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T19:27:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lawyers-lsu-football-player-accused-192727724.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Louisiana State University football player Damien Shanklin is maintaining his innocence after being accused of sexual assault, according to a statement released by his attorneys Grant Willis and Morgan Johnson on October 1. The accusations were brought to LSU's Office of Civil Rights and Title IX back in January, and a criminal investigation was opened by East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore last month. The two attorneys emphasized that the situation is ongoing and that they cannot provide more information to avoid compromising the criminal investigation. They also requested that the public refrain from making assumptions about the individuals involved until more information becomes available.",
  "summary": "LSU football player's attorneys assert his innocence as criminal investigation opens into an alleged sexual assault case he was involved in.",
  "key_points": [
    "Damien Shanklin maintains innocence in rape accusation",
    "Accusations reported to LSU's Office of Civil Rights in January",
    "Criminal investigation opened by East Baton Rouge DA in recent month"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}