Man shot outside Woodland Hills-Penn Hills high school game in Turtle Creek: Reports

On Friday evening, a man was shot following gunfire near the Woodland Hills-Penn Hills high school football game at the Wolvarena in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania. The incident, which occurred near a pharmacy on Oak Avenue, caused panic among spectators.

Turtle Creek Mayor Adam Forgie reported that the gunshots were fired near the pharmacy, creating confusion and fear among the attendees at the Wolvarena.

"It understandably caused the students to panic when they heard the shots," Mayor Forgie told KDKA-TV. "From what I understand, it resulted in a stampede as people tried to leave the stadium. Fortunately, everything is under control now, and we're working to piece together what happened."

According to Allegheny County police, the individual involved in the shooting had exited the game and was walking nearby when he heard several gunshots and was struck in the leg. Per reports, he ran back into the stadium to get help.

Numerous emergency responders, including ambulances and police, arrived at the scene and the unnamed man was taken to a hospital and later released. The game, which was in the fourth quarter, was halted, and the stadium was promptly cleared. Penn Hills assistant coach Lyle Harris explained that he was focused on coaching and did not initially hear the gunshots.

"I actually didn't hear anything because we were coaching and I was paying attention to the play," Penn Hills assistant coach Lyle Harris told KDKA-TV.

"We saw movement and it accumulated and started to move towards us and across the field. So, we're all shocked not knowing what's going on. After we found out there were gunshots, we moved to the end of the field and moved to a locker room that's underneath the stadium seats."

Woodland Hills school district enhances security measures following shooting incident

In response to the shooting incident, Woodland Hills School District is revising its safety protocols for future sporting events. Woodland Hills Superintendent, in a letter to families, clarified that the shooting occurred off school property and did not involve any students. Nevertheless, after a meeting on Monday morning, school officials decided to reassess safety procedures for athletic events.

Moving forward, Woodland Hills students will need to present a ticket, which must be purchased in advance at school, along with a student ID. Students from districts not participating in the game will be denied entry. Football games will now start at 7 p.m., and entry will not be permitted after the first quarter.

The Penn Hills School District is also implementing increased security measures for the upcoming game against North Allegheny at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium, as outlined in a letter from superintendent Dr. John Mozzocio.

"We are examining our safety readiness and procedures for the upcoming game with North Allegheny on Friday," the letter read. "There will be an increased security presence at the stadium."

To enhance security, tickets must be pre-purchased during school sales, and students must present a valid student ID for entry. Any students in grades K-12 who do not have a pre-sale ticket must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the gate to buy a ticket on game day. The Penn Hills vs. North Allegheny matchup is set for Friday night at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium.