Didn't he also say the word could have been "goon" . . . that, according to his daughter, that is a word of endearment.
BTW, 'tho it's not related to this case, my two Florida born and raised granddaughters, ages 6 and 8, have heard the word "coon" being used on the school bus.
Maybe they spotted a racoon.
It’s to the point where when I thought I had raccoon in my attic I didn’t feel safe in saying “coon” as an abbreviation.