Multiple people were hospitalized, including one with a life-threatening injury, after gunfire rang out in the fourth quarter of a high school football game Friday night at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, police said.
Gunfire erupted around 9:56 p.m. Friday during the game between Vigor and Williamson high schools at the Mobile stadium, according to Mobile police spokeswoman Officer Katrina Frazier.
It was immediately unclear how many people were injured, but one of the victims was taken to the hospital with a life-threatening injury, Frazier said.
Shots rang out with 5:49 to play, sending people dashing for the exits or lying flat on their stomachs wherever they could find cover.
Unbeaten Vigor (7-0, 4-0 in 4A Region 1 play) was up 28-12 at the time on the strength of Anthony Mix’s 32-yard TD pass to Brennan-Maye Jordan, Jermaine Coleman’s 10-yard run, Mix’s 4-yard scoring dash and Jacori Barnes’ 11-yard TD dash.
A pair of Daniel Miller touchdown passes to Hahkeem Green accounted for Williamson’s scores, but Lions Coach Melvin Pete Jr. wasn’t concerned about his team’s effort on the field. He could only think about the tragic circumstances that have now forced the game’s conclusion to likely be played Monday at an as yet undetermined location.
“It’s sad because of just our communities will suffer after things like this,” said a sullen Pete.
Vigor Coach John McKenzie echoed the sentiment.
“These things happen and what can you do?” said the Wolves coach. “We’ve got to be an example and change these kid’s lives that many are out here raising themselves.”
Mobile County Public Schools director of communications Rena Philips told AL.com that she was working to try to get details on the incident. On Saturday morning, Vigor principal Gerald Cunningham told AL.com correspondent Darron Patterson the game would resume at 10 a.m. Monday at Theodore with no fans present.
Anyone with information on the incident was asked to contact the Mobile police at 251-208-7211.
In 2019, nine people were injured at the stadium when shots rang out at the end of a game between LeFlore High School and Williamson High School, including six who were shot.
Earlier this year, a shooting outside of the stadium halted a high school game between Fairfield and Jackson-Olin. The game was halted and resumed on Saturday.
AL.com contributor Darron Patterson provided reporting on this story.