A high school football game in McKeesport, Penn. was halted Friday night when a gunshot rang out just before 11 p.m., and a 17-year-old suspect was quickly apprehended.
Liberty Borough police anticipate filing charges of receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm by a minor, possession of a weapon on school property, reckless endangerment and carrying a firearm without a license alleged to have fired, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
The gun was reported stolen.
The game between South Allegheny and Elizabeth Forward high schools was late in the fourth quarter when the incident occurred.
The unidentified suspect is a student at Brashear High School in Pittsburgh, police said.
There were no reported injuries, but police recovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun from the suspect’s waistband, according to the Tribune Review.
He was transported in custody to a juvenile detention center.
WTAE, an ABC affiliate, reported that a .45-caliber round was recovered from the ceiling area of the stadium entrance.
“This was an extremely serious incident,” Liberty Borough police chief Ralph Marsico said. “A firearm was discharged during a heavily attended school sporting event where numerous students, children, parents, school personnel, and members of our community were present. The potential for a far more tragic outcome cannot be overstated.”
The gunshot unleashed a chaotic scene inside the stadium as people began fleeing and looking for cover, as seen on video
“There was a loud shot, and I knew immediately what it was,” Jess Levo-Sten, the camera operator for TribLive’s High School Sports Network livestream, told her outlet. “Everybody paused and looked at each other, and then everybody started running.”
“We are grateful for the quick response of our South Allegheny School Police officers and the assistance of our local law enforcement partners,” South Allegheny superintendent Dr. David McDonald said. “The safety of our students, athletes, families, staff and community remains our highest priority.”
