Providence Football Game Interrupted By Gunfire

CHICAGO, IL -- Gunfire erupted nearby at the Providence Catholic High School football game in the city of Chicago Friday night. Media reports indicate no one was injured and no one in custody and the game went on after a brief postponement.

Photos shared on social media Friday night indicate both teams needed to duck for cover as the gun shots could be clearly heard inside the stadium in Altgeld Park, where Chicago Hope Academy plays their home football games. Other reports indicate Providence cheerleaders had just arrived and were in the parking lot when the shots were fired. The shots were apparently fired nearby, not at the field.

Facebook users in local groups shared information that players from both teams knelt together in prayer prior to the game and that that was before the gunfire. The game had just started and had to be halted after the gunfire, Providence Head Coach Mark Coglianese told the Chicago Sun-Times.

“The game had just started and there were some shots a block or two away,” he said. “We were never threatened, but it was the safe thing to to. We waited for the police to give us the all clear.”

The remainder of the game was played and Providence won, 56-14.

Pregame Prayer with our new
CCL Brothers @ChiHopeEagles pic.twitter.com/7MWMc3kKvb
— Providence Football (@CelticsFootball) September 29, 2017

Photo via Google Maps screenshot