Gunfire Reports Send Crowds Fleeing at Two California High School Football Games

A 17-year-old was fatally shot near a Bakersfield stadium, while a separate report of possible gunfire prompted an evacuation during a game at Los Angeles Southwest College. Authorities say the incidents were not connected.

Gun shots near a pair of California high school football games provided some scary moments for fans at both contests. | SBLive Sports

Friday night high school football turned frightening at two separate locations in California when reports of gunfire sent spectators scrambling for safety and brought games to a halt.

One incident in Bakersfield left a 17-year-old dead, while another roughly 100 miles away at Los Angeles Southwest College prompted a lockdown and evacuation, according to a broadcast report from KTLA 5.

Authorities stressed that the incidents were unrelated.

17-Year-Old Fatally Shot Near Bakersfield Game

The more serious incident occurred during Independence High School's first football game of the season in Bakersfield.

According to the KTLA report, police said a fight apparently broke out among a group of teenagers shortly after 8 p.m. in the stadium area, just south of the football field.

A 17-year-old boy was shot in the chest.

Witnesses reported hearing seven or eight gunshots before spectators began running for safety. According to KTLA's reporting, officers arrived within minutes and located the teenager, who was transported to Kern Medical. He was later pronounced dead, according to police.

The campus was evacuated as police investigated and secured the area. Police later arrested a 15-year old boy in connection with the shooting, according to Fox News Digital. Authorities also confirmed that neither the victim nor the alleged shooter were students of Independence High School.

Panic at High School Game in Los Angeles

Hours later, another frightening scene unfolded during a high school football game being played at Los Angeles Southwest College in the West Athens area.

Witnesses told KTLA that loud bangs were heard while the game was underway, causing people to run for cover. The game was halted.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department received the call at approximately 9 p.m. Deputies arriving at the scene found dozens of people fleeing and placed the area on lockdown while students, staff members and spectators were evacuated.

Deputies established a perimeter and searched for a possible suspect.

Importantly, authorities said they had not found evidence confirming that a shooting had actually occurred and had located no shooting victims. Video aired by KTLA showed a woman being taken away on a stretcher, but the nature of her apparent injuries was not known.

Authorities Say Incidents Were Not Connected

Despite occurring during high school football games on the same night, authorities said there was no indication the Bakersfield and Los Angeles County incidents were related.

Both were being treated as isolated events. The two scenes nevertheless produced similar moments of fear.

For players and families expecting the excitement of an early-season Friday night under the lights, both games instead became scenes of evacuations and uncertainty.

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