Fight prompts suspension of Morgan Park-Simeon football game
September 7, 2012 10:22PM
Updated: October 10, 2012 6:27AM
A fight Friday at Gately Stadium on Chicago’s South Side halted the Simeon-Morgan Park game in the third quarter, and an eyewitness and a police source said shots possibly were fired.
Loud noises and flashes of light could be seen coming from the Morgan Park stands, according to a Sun-Times reporter who was at the game. A police source told the Sun-Times a large fight broke out at the game and officers responded to reports of shots fired.
The Chicago police office of news affairs said they did not receive a report of gunshots. “Our dispatcher informed us there was no indication of shots fired,” police spokesman Daniel O’Brien said. “There may have been a person who flashed a gun, which may have precipitated or escalated the fight.”
Morgan Park boys basketball coach Nick Irvin, who was at the game, said, “I didn’t hear any gunshots. People are saying someone just pulled a gun out. I got out of there as fast as possible. I haven’t moved that fast since I was playing.”
A spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department said a male was stabbed and taken to Roseland Community Hospital about 8:43 p.m. The age and condition of the male was not immediately known.
Calvin Davis, director of Chicago Public League sports administration, was not aware any shots were fired.
“I haven’t heard any reports of gunshots. It was simply a fight in the stands on the Morgan Park side,” Davis said.
Chicago Police and Public League security cleared the stadium of all fans. The game was canceled around 9:20 p.m. and will be continued at 3 p.m. Sunday at Gately.
“Chicago Police decided to cancel the game,” Davis said. “They felt there were unsafe conditions in the area. Nothing happened on the field.”
Simeon led Morgan Park 6-0 when the game was suspended with 10:27 left to play in the third quarter.
“You had a massive crowd running toward the field, so my first thing was to get the kids to safety,” Morgan Park coach Wesley Yates said.
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