PENN HILLS — Increased security and no fans in the stands is what will greet players and coaches on Friday night at the Penn Hills-Woodland Hills football game, amid safety concerns after one teen was killed and another injured in a shooting last week, according to the school district.
“We believe restricting those allowed onsite to football players, coaches and essential event staff only is prudent given recent events that have affected many youth in the Pittsburgh area,” Penn Hills Superintendent Nancy J. Hines wrote in a letter posted on the district’s website and shared on social media.
The game is set to kickoff at 7 p.m. at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium in Penn Hills.
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That’s not the only game affected by this. Officials with both the Clairton and Leechburg school districts said their game this weekend is being moved to Friday night in Leechburg and no fans will be allowed in the stands. The game will instead be live-streamed. The Clairton superintendent said this change is being made over concerns of violence and that there were Clairton students at the hayride shooting.
Steven Eason, 15, of Wilmerding, died after he was shot in the chest and stomach shortly before 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, police said. A second teenager, who is also 15 years old, was shot in the shoulder and was last listed in stable condition.
Both teenagers were taken to hospitals by paramedics who were at the Haunted Hills Hayride in North Versailles at the time of the shooting.
Police said Eason, a student at Central Catholic High School, went to the attraction with a group of friends. While there, the group saw the second victim, whom they knew casually, get into an argument with the shooter and went to help.
That’s when the shooter pulled out a gun and fired three times, hitting Eason and the other teenager.
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