LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A night on the PRP High School football field that should have been filled with excitement, turned into one of chaos and fear.
Shots rang out in the school's parking lot Sunday night, during a PRP and Male High School make-up football game.
Two juveniles were shot, one of the victims was found with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
The other victim arrived at the UofL's Mary and Elizabeth Hospital with gunshot wounds. They are expected to survive their injuries, LMPD said Sunday night.
Sunday night, players and fans were seen running off the field and told to take cover under the bleachers.
One night later, Iroquois High School and Trimble County ran onto the field for Iroquois' homecoming game.
“It’s their homecoming. So, if they’re here showing up and doing what they need to do, I’m gonna support them," said Roxan Reed, a parent to a freshman on Iroquois' team.
Proud parents and family members lined the stands at the high school, while remembering what happened down the road just the night before.
“We come here to enjoy ourselves. If you need to carry on some arguments or to have this strife, do it somewhere else," said Leora Jackson, a parent to a sophomore on Iroquois' team. "There needs to be more measures involved, because it creates this, this anxiety, this fear. Like, oh, I'm not coming to a game."
Both Jackson and Reed said parents need to focus on supporting their kids and showing up for them.
“It takes parents to be accountable. Parents to know who, where their kids are, who their kids are involved with. Are the kids acting up in school, other kids in the game? Do your child have a gun it if parents don't know that," Jackson said. “Parents need to be accountable. Know where your children are, know what they're doing, stay focused on them."
Half a mile down the street from where shots rang out Sunday night at PRP High School, Ridgewood Baptist Church Pastor Molly Shoulta Tucker is leaning on God to protect their neighborhood.
"We have folks in our congregation who graduated from PRP High School. It sometimes feels like gun violence is far away, but it's really just a block away from our congregation, and so by lifting prayers and acknowledging that it is right here, we remember that it is close to us and that we are obligated to pray and speak out to try to change it," she said. "Children should not have to live in fear. I think that as adults, we are called to create spaces where children can be safe, where they can learn and play and hang out and laugh."
LMPD's Homicide Unit is handling the investigation due to one of the victim's serious injuries.
Investigators said they are pursuing leads but are asking residents to check their home video systems for any suspicious persons.
LMPD said they had good reason to believe those involved fled the area through residential neighborhoods near PRP.
If you were at the game and can help police with their investigation, you are asked to call (502) 574-LMPD or use their online Crime Tip Portal.
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