A high school football game in Utica, New York was marred by violence when a security guard was gravely injured from a gunshot to his head. This incident occurred near Thomas R. Proctor High School’s parking area, shortly after 4 pm on Saturday, September 9.
Video evidence depicts a group of around 12 individuals in an altercation, during which two shots can be heard. As the security guard stepped in to defuse the situation, he was struck by a bullet. Subsequently, he was transported to the hospital where he is currently battling critical injuries.
The group had previously been stopped from attending the varsity match against Binghamton High School by another member of the security team. Utica’s Police Chief, Mark Williams, provided more context. He mentioned that the guard had reservations about the group, leading to their exclusion. Interestingly, even though the venue has metal detectors, the group was stopped before they reached the screening point.
Preliminary data suggests one individual may be accountable for the shots fired. The police are actively searching for this individual, examining various underlying reasons, including a potential gang connection.
The Utica incident is reflective of a concerning trend in school football games. Only a week prior, a shooting during a Louisiana game’s halftime resulted in a student’s death and an adult’s injury, with an 18-year-old being taken into custody. In a separate occurrence, an Oklahoma football match was thrown into disarray when a 16-year-old attendee was shot.