A 17-year-old was shot and killed during a high school football game in Bakersfield on Friday night, sending players and fans scrambling from the scene, authorities said.

The Bakersfield Police Department said they were called to the stadium a little after 8 p.m. for reports of shots fired at Independence High School during the team’s season opener.

Footage from the stadium at Independence High School showed players and fans running from the scene. KBAK/KBFX

Bakersfield Police Sergeant Eric Celedon said the shooting happened just outside the inner chain-link fence where the game was being played. Police determined the shooting stemmed from a fight during the game.

“We know that families look forward to coming out here every Friday night and seeing their kids play on this field,” Celedon said.

Fans fled the stadium after the shooting. KBAK/KBFX

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“Based on our preliminary investigation, we believe this began as an isolated incident that began as an altercation between a group of individuals, which ultimately resulted in the shooting.”

The teen male victim remains unidentified, and there’s no suspect information at this time, police said.

Bakersfield Police said the shooting happened just outside the inner chain-link fence where the game was being played. KNN NEWS

Footage from the stadium showed players and fans running from the scene after the shooting.

The game was between Centennial High School and Independent High School. A local sportscaster, Vance Palm, said the shooting happened just a few minutes into the game.

Police determined the shooting stemmed from a fight during the game. KNN NEWS

“Just started the game and what we thought we heard…a firework or a shot,” he said. “Certainly heard something, and then within a matter of seconds the entire Independence home stands all started rushing north [away from the shooting.]”

Local police are confident that families should be able to enjoy going to football games in the future.

“It’s tragic, and one is too many, especially somewhere where we come to have a good time, to bring our families, and a place where we celebrate, so we understand why somebody would be fearful to come out,” Celedon said.

The victim remains unidentified and there’s no suspect information at this time, police said. KBAK/KBFX

“But we want to really reiterate one thing: how amazing our community is, how strong our community is. We can get through this, and I’m confident that next Friday, everybody will be back out here full force, enjoying the football games as their team,” he added.

A prayer service was held at nearby Bakersfield Christian High School after the violent outburst.

The same night, another shooting was believed to have broken out at the campus of Los Angeles Southwest College at a football game between San Pedro High School and King/Drew Magnet High School. The San Pedro Pirates took a decisive 20-6 lead midway through the third quarter when an apparent gunshot was heard.

Spectators rushed the field, and the game was suspended. Authorities evacuated spectators, but never found any evidence of a shooting or any victims.

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