Shocking moment shows Thomas R. Proctor High School guard shot in the head in Utica during brawl at high school football game
- A violent brawl culminated in a shooting during an upstate New York high school football game in Utica when a security guard was shot in the back of the head
- The shooting happened just after 4pm on Saturday as security personnel tried to separate people who were fighting
- The injured security guard was taken to hospital and remains in critical condition – as a 16-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged with attempted murder
A brawl during a high school football game in New York turned violent Saturday after a security guard was shot in the back of the head.
The shocking moment occurred as the security guard tried to break up a fight during the final 15 minutes of the game in Utica just after 4 p.m.
Video footage shows about a dozen people arguing on the sidewalk outside Thomas R. Proctor High School when two shots suddenly rang out.
One of the two guards – who had tried to separate the groups – fell to the ground after being hit by one of the bullets.
The security guard injured in the incident was rushed to hospital and police arrested a teenage suspect in connection with the case.
A violent brawl culminated in a shooting during a New York high school football game in Utica, in which a security guard was shot in the back of the head
The shooting happened just after 4pm on Saturday as security personnel tried to separate people who were fighting
The injured security guard, seen far right, was taken to hospital and remains in critical condition – as a 16-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged with attempted murder
In the moments before the shooting, the violent group had been turned away from nearby Binghamton High School, where a varsity game was taking place.
Although the stadium has metal detectors, the security guard turned the group away before becoming aware of the presence of firearms.
“He suspected something was wrong with this group and refused to go to the stadium,” Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said.
Williams said a motive for the shooting has not yet been determined, but it may be gang related.
The unnamed guard was taken to hospital in critical condition but is expected to survive.
Police quickly arrived on the scene after the shooting on Saturday afternoon
Utica Police Chief Mark Williams said a motive for the shooting has not yet been determined, but it could very well be gang related.
A lone gunman was responsible and a 16-year-old suspect has been arrested with several weapons charges and an attempted murder charge against him.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing and police want to speak to anyone who was at the match during the incident.
It is the latest wave of violence at high school football games.
Last week, a student was killed and a woman was injured after a halftime shooting at a high school football game in Louisiana.
An 18-year-old man was arrested in that incident for allegedly pulling the trigger.
Also last month, a 16-year-old was killed during a football game in Oklahoma after being hit by a hail of bullets from the stands as players and spectators ran for their lives as the shooting raged.