Suspect charged with three felonies after Austintown Football game gun incident Friday
New details are emerging after a 17-year-old was taken into custody after allegedly brandishing a gun during a football game Friday night.
The 17-year-old suspect was in the Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division and was charged with three felony counts and one misdemeanor.
The counts include carrying a concealed weapon (F4), inducing panic (F4), illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon in a school zone (F5) and aggravated menacing (M1).
Austintown Police Chief Bob Gavalier told 21 News that towards the end of the fourth quarter of the game against Warren G Harding High School, large crowds from Warren were "causing issues."
Police were called to Austintown Fitch High School around 9:32 pm Friday for a fight on the stadium's north end.
The officer first on the scene heard a person in the crowd shout, “He has a gun.”
The officer then observed a male holding a gun, according to the police report. One officer stated in the report that he saw the suspect come around a gate towards the officer, holding a gun in front of him and pointing the weapon. The officer noted that he exited the gate once the suspect saw the officer.
Officers chased the suspect and ran towards buses parked on the north side of the school, where the suspect surrendered to officers. Officers, with guns drawn, ordered the suspect to keep his hands up.
The report states a gun was recovered from the suspect’s pants, and the suspect was placed into handcuffs. No shots were fired during the incident.
The 17-year-old suspect was transported to the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center and charged.
Two other suspects were detained and released to their parents, and no one else was arrested.