Gunshots were fired during a fight at a high school football game in Manteca, California, on Friday night, causing panic among fans and leading to the game's early termination. The shots rang out just before 9:30 p.m. during a game between Manteca High School and Cesar Chavez High School.
Police officers assigned to the game determined that a firearm was discharged near the school's gym following a physical altercation between individuals outside the stadium. No injuries were reported, and investigators recovered bullet casings from the scene. Manteca Mayor Gary Singh stated that approximately four minutes remained in the fourth quarter when the shooting occurred, at which point Manteca held a 29-7 lead.
Law enforcement officials have detained three people in connection with the incident. "The Manteca Police Department is glad that nobody was injured and proud of the response by the officers on scene and the responding patrol officers," Singh said. Sergeant Steven Beermann of the Manteca Police Department emphasized the department's commitment to safety at such events, noting the significant police presence dedicated to ensuring attendee security.
Chavez High School Head Football Coach Derek Graves described hearing one gunshot, followed by a second, as people began to flee. He expressed support for the decision to end the game, acknowledging his team's deficit at the time.
This event follows a separate incident last month in Bakersfield where a 17-year-old was fatally shot during a high school football game. A 15-year-old male was subsequently arrested and charged with murder in that case.