A 17-year-old was fatally shot during a high school football game in Bakersfield, California, on Friday night, prompting players and spectators to flee the scene.
The Bakersfield Police Department responded to reports of shots fired at Independence High School shortly after 8 p.m. during the team's season opener. Police Sergeant Eric Celedon stated the shooting occurred just outside the stadium's chain-link fence and was preceded by a fight during the game.
"We know that families look forward to coming out here every Friday night and seeing their kids play on this field," Celedon said. "Based on our preliminary investigation, we believe this began as an isolated incident that began as an altercation between a group of individuals, which ultimately resulted in the shooting."
Footage from the stadium showed players and fans running from the field after the gunfire erupted. The victim's identity has not been released, and police have not provided suspect information.
A prayer service was later held at a nearby high school following the incident.