A 17-year-old died after being shot at a season-opening football game in California, an event that sent attendees fleeing for safety. The unidentified teen was shot around 8 p.m. near the south side of the field shortly after the game began. He was transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
A fight involving a group of individuals preceded the shooting, according to KGET. A photojournalist present at the game reported hearing up to eight shots fired. Authorities have not announced any suspects or made arrests, and police stated they do not believe there is a current public threat.
Sergeant Eric Celedon of the Bakersfield Police Department commented, "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." Video footage from inside the stadium depicted attendees running from the stands in fear, with some football players seen crouching behind bushes. Others were observed making urgent phone calls. Vance Palm, a local sportscaster, initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks.
Police confirmed the shooting began after a group altercation, assuring the public there was no ongoing threat. The Bakersfield Police Department has been contacted for further comment.
In a separate incident in Jacksonville, Florida, a 19-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man were injured in a shooting that occurred during a football game. Police in Florida believe the suspects were game attendees with no affiliation to the schools involved. An officer stated that the incident stemmed from an ongoing dispute between the parties and did not pose an additional danger to the community or schools. The suspects are believed to be in their early 20s.
A prayer service is scheduled to be held at the California high school where the fatal shooting occurred. Sergeant Celedon expressed confidence that the community would recover, stating, "I’m confident that next Friday, everybody will be back out here full force, enjoying the football games as their team."