Broward football game security tightened after nearby shooting
“There was a woman out there giving us all of the instructions. No food, no bags because people like to sneak stuff in. I welcomed it, actually.” — Lou Cintron
High school varsity football games had more and stronger security this week, the result of an announcement by the Broward County school district on Thursday, a week after a shooting near a campus after a game.
Before entering games, spectators were screened with handheld metal detectors. Backpacks and other bags weren’t permitted into stadiums. Diaper bags were the only exception, and they were searched, according to the new rules.
The school district also increased the law enforcement and security presence at the game sites. In addition, no one is allowed to be re-admitted after leaving a stadium and tickets are no longer being sold once the fourth quarter begins.
Western High School in Davie was among the sites where the extra measures were implemented on Friday night as the Wildcats hosted Coconut Creek.
“We didn’t have our tickets available so they sent us to the back of the line,” Lou Cintron said. “There was a woman out there giving us all of the instructions. No food, no bags because people like to sneak stuff in. I welcomed it, actually.”
The security changes come a week after a shooting after the Piper-Fort Lauderdale football game on Sept. 30. The shooting occurred across the street from Fort Lauderdale High about 10:17 p.m., but no victims were located and no arrests were made, according to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
According to a police report, a high school football player was in a fight with someone on the field at Autonation Community Field (on the site of old Lockhart Stadium), and the football player was upset because his teammates held him back during the fight. The report states the player had to be driven back to the school by a coach.
Police in Fort Lauderdale were then called to the school after multiple shots were fired near campus. Witnesses say they saw two people take off running, including a person matching the description of the
player who had been in the altercation earlier.
A witness provided police with the name of the suspected shooter. The report says that person is 16, and his name is redacted, as is the name of the football player. Because this incident is believed to involve a juvenile, it is not clear what if anything came from the matter.
A Broward County Public Schools spokesperson said the increased security was implemented “in response to recent local and national events.”
Shawn Cerra, the Broward County Athletic Association Director of Athletics & Student Activities, said the security procedures were not changed directly because of that shooting.
“We recognized we could do more while also working hard to enhance the overall game experience,” he said.
“We received a robocall and communicated the changes,” said Christine Ankley, another attendee at Western. “It is nice to know ahead of time so you are not bringing in a purse. You want to leave it in the car for safety. It’s the kids’ safety, go along with it. You shouldn’t be complaining.”
Earlier in the school year, a woman was arrested for allegedly stabbing a man during a fight that broke out after Blanche Ely played McArthur High on Aug. 26. According to police, a dispute started on campus but moved to a nearby park, where the stabbing occurred.
Security at games is provided by local municipalities’ law enforcement, Broward Sheriff ’s Office, the District Special Investigative Unit and school security teams, according to the Broward County Public Schools spokesperson.
The additional security will be implemented at district campuses when the home team is playing another Broward County Athletic Association team. The association encompasses all public-school teams in Broward County as well as Cardinal Gibbons, Coral Springs Charter, Pembroke Pines Charter and St. Thomas Aquinas. If a Broward public school team is playing at a private school that is not a member of the Broward County Athletic Association, the new rules do not apply there.
This is not the first time violence has prompted South Florida schools to tighten security at high
school games. After a 2018 shooting at a Palm Beach Central football game injured two people, Palm Beach County increased security at games.
The Palm Beach County School District began allowing only clear bags and diaper bags (all subject to search), prohibited entry to games after the third quarter and disallowed
re-entry, prohibited loitering outside of the stadium or in parking lots before, during and after games, and moved all kickoffs to 6 p.m.
Although Palm Beach County later moved the start times back to 6:30, a
Palm Beach County spokeswoman said Friday the other measures are still in effect.
Most Broward County games start at 7 p.m.