In Apopka, Florida, on Monday night, October 2, 2023, a youth football practice was disrupted when a fight over a bag of chips led to a shooting that injured two players.
The incident took place approximately 20 miles from Orlando around 8:20 p.m.
The disagreement began with a dispute among the youth players on the field. However, the situation rapidly escalated and moved to the parking lot.
One of the young players, an 11-year-old boy, proceeded to his mother’s unlocked vehicle where he retrieved a firearm, firing a single shot.
The single shot injured two players: one in the arm and the other in the upper torso. Both victims were taken to the hospital. Medical professionals confirmed that both victims were in stable condition following the incident.
Apopka Police Chief Mike McKinley was one of the first officials to address the media concerning this incident. He highlighted the unfortunate events that led to the altercation.
The shooter was arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder.
The police successfully recovered the firearm used in the incident. The handgun was found inside the boy’s mother’s SUV. Reportedly, the boy allegedly returned the gun to the box in the car after the shooting.
Police said the boy’s mother was in the driver’s seat of her vehicle before and during the shooting and that her son knew she kept a gun in her car.
The ongoing investigation will likely focus on understanding the circumstances that allowed a young child to gain access to a lethal weapon, especially at a sporting event involving children.