Panic as gunshots fired at California high school football game

Gunshots rang out during a fight at a high school football game in the Central Valley Friday night, sparking panic among fans and forcing officials to end the game early.

The shots were fired just before 9:30 p.m. during a game between Manteca High School and Cesar Chavez High School in Manteca, police said.

Officers assigned to the game determined the gun went off near the school’s gym after a “physical altercation” between people outside the stadium.

No one was struck by the gunfire, officials said. Police found bullet casings at the scene.

Manteca Mayor Gary Singh said about four minutes remained in the fourth quarter when the shooting occurred. The game was called off, with Manteca leading 29-7.

Law enforcement later detained three people in connection with the shooting, officials said.

“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,” he wrote.

Manteca Police Department Sergeant Steven Beermann told ABC 10 the police department takes local football games seriously.

“I’d like to let the community know that the police department takes these football games serious. We had significant officers on scene to handle any problems … So I think the threat to the greater community was mitigated by the amount of officers that we dedicated to make sure people were going to be safe during this football game,” he said.

Chavez High School Head Football Coach Derek Graves spoke with ABC10 about the shocking incident.

“I was in the middle of a play, and then we heard one gunshot,” Graves said. “Then the second shot went off and people from their side started running this way. So, people reacted and people started running away from the shot that, where they expected shots were.” 

He said he agreed with the decision to call the game.

“When something like that happens, it’s, you know, I support that decision,” Graves said. “We were down, you know, they got the victory.”

The incident occurred after a 17-year-old was shot and killed during a high school football game in Bakersfield last month, sending players and fans scrambling from the scene.

The victim was identified as Levi Brown, a promising former high school quarterback. An unidentified15-year-old male was arrested Saturday on murder charges.

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