VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — At least two people were hurt in a shooting near a football game at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach Thursday night, police said.
Virginia Beach police officers working the football game heard gunshots just before 9:45 p.m., according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.
At the same time, officers responded to the scene in the 5000 block of John Smith Court, right next to the high school. There were no victims, damage or suspects at the scene, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.
Later in the night, at 11:35 p.m., Virginia Beach dispatchers got a call about two gunshot victims, a 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man, whose injuries were non-lethal, according to the police department. Police determined that the two victims were shot on John Smith Court.
The Virginia Beach Police Department also said a third gunshot victim, a 19-year-old man, walked into a hospital with a non-life-threatening injury but didn't cooperate with police about how he was shot. It's unknown if it's related to the shooting on John Smith Court, according to police.
The school worked with the Virginia Beach Police Department and cleared the field at Kempsville High, ending the football game against Green Run early, according to the school spokesperson.
A Kempsville parent who does not want to be identified told 13News Now, “I left at halftime through the back gate and there were no police there. The stands were packed and folks were standing on the track. Lots of folks, not too many police.”
"All students, staff and families are safe," the school spokesperson said.
Kempsville families received the following message from school officials regarding the incident:
"Good evening, Kempsville and Green Run High School families—
We are writing to make you aware that we had to end tonight’s football game early because of shots fired in the neighborhood adjacent to Kempsville High School. We worked in collaboration with the Virginia Beach Police Department to clear the field and stadium. Our students, staff and families are safe.
Thank you for your support."
'It was chaotic': Game attendees ran for cover after hearing gunshots
Eyewitnesses said they heard multiple gunshots and then saw people running to take cover with about five minutes left in the game.
Local sports commentator Robert Finnell, or Robert EF, caught the moment that moment on his livestream.
In the video, you can hear around five or six shots as Finnell says, “Oh Lord, they’re out here. They’re shooting.”
“It was chaotic,” Finnell said. “I thought I heard five shots. When I heard the five shots there was a little delay on people moving and running, but once those shots were heard and they actually figured out they were gunshots, everybody just started running to take cover.”
Finnell recalled seeing people ducking under bleachers, taking cover, since no one knew exactly where those shots came from. He said the stands were packed.
“Everybody from every city was at that game, so that game was very crowded,” he told 13News Now.
Dawn Everix said she was also at the game.
“I’m extremely sad about it, but I’m not surprised by it," Everix said. "And that’s what makes it so sad! I feel bad for the kids that went running."
She added: "I’m disappointed in the lack of humanity in this world today. It’s sad when I have to tell my 17 and 19-year-old to know an escape route wherever they go.”
Finnell said he hopes nothing like that happens here in Hampton Roads.
“Don’t nobody want to see no kid or anybody get hurt at a football game,” he told 13News Now.
How Hampton Roads school systems address safety at sports games
When it comes to safety for the rest of the season, here is what our local divisions had to say--
Virginia Beach City Public Schools:
VBPCS works collaboratively with VBPD and the sheriff’s office to have coverage at events based on expected attendance, information gathered, and any other prior history. We are grateful to VBPD for their rapid response to ensure everyone’s safety.
Portsmouth Public Schools:
Security for all PPS games is provided by the Portsmouth Sheriff's Office. As part of their work, all attendees are checked with handheld wands.
Hampton City Schools:
Hampton City Schools has multiple safety and security measures in place at every one of our football games. The Hampton Police Division (HPD) provides police officers at each game. The officers assist in maintaining security (e.g., assisting at the gates, keeping walkways open, patrolling parking lots and grounds, monitoring the spectators). Additionally, staff members from our Hampton City Schools Department of School Security attend games and assist in the same manner as HPD. Other safety measures that we have in place include but are not limited to, weapons detection units for all fans (paid and pass holders) to pass through upon their entry into the game, as well as weapons detection canines patrolling at each game. It's important to note that as the fan comes into the game, he/she must choose which side of the stadium they will sit on and advance through the gate to that side of the stadium. Once that is determined, that fan cannot cross over to the other side. These checkpoints as well as all gates that open to the field are manned by stadium workers.
Newport News Public Schools:
All varsity high school football games are held at Todd Stadium. To ensure the safety and security of all attendees, there are a minimum of 15 school security officers, a minimum of 6 Newport News police officers and one NNPD commander, and when available, two sheriff’s deputies will be present. All attendees proceed through metal detectors and all bags are searched upon entry into the stadium.
We asked each division in Hampton Roads what their protocols are for football games, and we’re waiting to get that information from Norfolk, Chesapeake and Suffolk.