CINCINNATI — In a troubling incident, an Ohio student-athlete was injured when gunfire erupted outside a stadium during a high school football game. This shooting took place around 8:15 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of an elementary school while attendees were watching the game between the North College Hill and Woodward high school teams.
Officials quickly acted, with school administrators and the police starting an evacuation of the stadium. Authorities worked diligently to ensure the area was secured and safe as they responded to the situation. According to Principal Sam Yates of Woodward Career Technical High School, one of the student-athletes from Woodward was taken to the hospital for treatment, though details about their condition remain unclear.
Eugene Blalock Jr., the principal of North College Hill, expressed his dismay over the event in a social media post, stating he was “disheartened” and worried about the long-lasting emotional scars and trauma that such incidents can leave behind. “I feel absolutely helpless,” he said, acknowledging the difficulty in managing the actions of individuals who choose violence.
This incident marks the second instance of gunfire near the stadium this month, following a previous shooting during a game on September 6 against Cincinnati Country Day, where thankfully no injuries occurred. Principal Blalock confirmed that this would be the last game held at the stadium for the season.
He stated, “I live in North College Hill. It’s a great community, but there are far too many guns out here on the street.” In response, a spokesperson for Cincinnati Public Schools indicated that a crisis response team would be present to help support students as they return to school on Tuesday, aiming to address the emotional aftermath of the incident.
