A shooting broke out at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Friday, August 30 during a football game between Leflore and Williamson high schools. According to reports, at least 10 teenagers were shot and injured.
Authorities say that the victims range from age 15 to 18, with five of the victims taken to the hospital in critical condition, but with non-life threatening injuries.
“Why are the young people bringing this type of violence to public events. They’re bringing their beefs that they have with each other in their neighborhoods and they’re putting other people in harm’s way,” Mobile Police Chief Lawrence Battiste told reporters after the incident. “This is unacceptable for people to not to be able to come out and enjoy an event.”
Video which surfaced online shows players sheltering on the sideline while gunshots can be heard ringing in the background.
“This is just horrific to watch from Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Football coaches instructing players to take cover, fans hiding under the stands from a suspected shooting. This is a high school football game and should be a place of fun competition for everyone,” Simone Eli of CBS 42 wrote.
Two people are in custody, though it is not known whether they are suspected shooters.
“We’re going to have to be more aggressive on our end, the city, as to how we hold the individual accountable when they go before the courts. We have got to make sure they understand that we will not tolerate juvenile violence in our community,” the police chief added.
Police are continuing to interview witnesses at the scene. Chief Battiste also vowed to hold anyone involved responsible to the full extent of the law.
“This is unacceptable for people to not to be able to come out and enjoy an event watching their children play at a football game and watching their children perform in the band,” Battiste added.
While there were preliminary reports that a fight broke out in the stands prior to the end of the game, it is unknown whether that was related to the shooting.
