Canal Winchester Messenger - September 4th, 2022

www.columbusmessenger.com September 4, 2022 - CANAL WINCHESTER MESSENGER - PAGE 3
Gunfire at the CW vs. Groveport Madison football game
By Rick Palsgrove
gree felony of improper discharge of a
Managing Editor
firearm and second degree felony of inducing
panic. Gilbert said additional charges
Gunshots sent fans scattering at the recent
Canal Winchester at Groveport Madison
football game.
are expected and the incident is still under
investigation.
“It was the worst sound I’ve heard in my
Groveport Police Chief Casey Adams said
24 years of duty as a Groveport Police officer,”
said Groveport Police Lt. Josh Short of
on Aug. 23 that the suspect in the shooting
incident was released on bond by the
hearing the gunshots.
Franklin County Municipal Court. This information
is public record and can be viewed
According to Groveport Police Detective
Josh Gilbert, at around 9:08 p.m. on Aug.
at fcmcclerk.com.
19, Groveport Police officers working at the
In addition to the shooting, police said
game responded to shots fired in an area
several fights among youths took place in
outside of Cruiser Stadium. The game was
and around the stadium during the game.
halted with about two minutes remaining in
Short said once those fighting were removed
from the stadium they did not leave
the fourth quarter and the stadium was
evacuated.
the area and a large crowd formed outside
“Officers quickly detained one male adult
the stadium.
suspect, James Keys, 18, of Columbus, and
Gilbert said no Groveport Madison or
one juvenile,” said Gilbert. “Officers ensured
Canal Winchester students were identified
nobody was struck by any of the rounds
as being involved in the shooting incident or
fired and quickly located one Glock 10mm
in the fights.
handgun. The handgun located had been altered
to make it a fully automatic weapon.”
When asked if police knew why all the
fights and shooting took place and who the
According to the Groveport Police report,
alleged shooter was firing at, Gilbert said
the suspect was apprehended four minutes
the reasons are unknown at this time and
after he fired the shots by officers after a
that witnesses and those involved in the incidents
were “uncooperative.”
short foot chase.
Gilbert said six shots were fired from the
Gilbert said there were several “difficult
weapon and nobody was struck and there
variables” that police had to deal with during
the incident including that the shooting
were no injuries. He said the gunshots took
place among a large group of youths in a
took place in a dark area, there was a large
parking area near the Groveport Madison
number of youths involved, and people were
High School tennis courts and nearby Eastland-Fairfield
parking lot.
running.
“Police officers ran toward the gunfire,”
The juvenile was released to his mother
said Gilbert. “They put their lives on the
and Keys was sent to the Franklin County
line and it takes special people to do that.”
Jail where he was charged with a second de-
School staff also ran toward the gunfire.
Reactions to the shooting
By Rick Palsgrove
Managing Editor
It was a sound no one expects to hear at
a high school football game. A sharp, popping,
cracking sound - the sound of gunfire.
The six gunshots happened toward the
end of the Canal Winchester at Groveport
Madison varsity football game at Groveport
Madison High School on Aug. 19.
(See the article detailing the incident
above.)
Reactions when the shots were fired
•When the shots were first heard, players
on the field on both teams instinctively
flinched and looked around. Some then ran
for cover while others ducked and hit the
ground seeking safety. As some Groveport
Madison football players hit the ground to
avoid the bullets, coaches and others got in
front of the players to help protect them. Police
officers and school staff ran toward the
gunfire to find and apprehend the shooter
and keep people safe.
•The Cruiser Stadium announcer told
spectators and players to get low and evacuate
the stadium. Parents and school staff
used their own bodies to shield and protect
children. Other parents looked for their
kids. People ran for cover. Luckily, no one
was struck by the gunshots.
•A Groveport Madison football player
gave his helmet to a child to wear to help
protect them.
•Cruiser football players and cheerleaders
helped people clear safely from the field.
•A kid was scared and agitated, but his
friend put his arms around him to calm him
down.
•Canal Winchester Athletic Director Pat
Durbin said prior to the game officials from
both Canal Winchester and Groveport
Madison worked to make the stadium a safe
and secure environment. He also said the
game was well played with both Canal Winchester
Indian and Groveport Madison
Cruiser players showing great sportsmanship
toward each other.
“There were no unsportsmanlike conduct
penalties, no unnecessary roughness penalties,
and players helped each other up after
plays,” said Durbin. “The players exhibited
great behavior.”
Durbin said he was proud of the Canal
Winchester football coaches, band director,
cheerleading coach, and players.
“They stayed with the kids to ensure
their protection,” said Durbin. “They got
them quickly and safely out of the stadium.
The players looked out for one another. One
See REACTIONS, page 4
Gilbert said it appears many involved in
the disturbances at the game came from
Columbus outside of Groveport. He said police
do not know why these individuals came
to the game in Groveport.
He said Groveport Police worked to deescalate
the fights by talking with those involved.
“We make the effort to mediate and separate
them,” said Gilbert. “Our officers are
good at talking people to calm them down.”
Short said social media rumors that
there was also someone with a gun inside
the high school building were false. Officers
swept the building and did not find a
shooter there and a review of security videos
confirmed there was no gunman in the
building.
Short urged people not to accept what is
posted on social media sites as fact.
“The cesspool of social media spreads
misinformation,” said Short.
The Groveport Police received mutual aid
from the Columbus Police, Obetz Police,
Madison Township Police and Fire departments,
and the Franklin County Sheriff’s
Office in responding to the incidents at the
game.
Groveport Madison response
In an official statement from Groveport
Madison Schools, Superintendent James
Grube said, “As we debriefed with police officials
following the incident, we learned
that several of our students and youths from
other area high schools were loitering outside
of the stadium. In addition, several outof-district
students got tickets to enter the
stadium for the game. We will immediately
implement safeguards to restrict out-of-district
youth (exempting students from the
visiting team) from obtaining tickets to our
events.”
Grube said the district makes efforts to
prevent youths from loitering outside the
stadium during athletic events and that district
officials will revisit these efforts.
Grube thanked the Groveport and Madison
Township police departments.
“We work very closely with these two
agencies and regularly review safety plans
and conduct training drills for incidents of
this nature,” said Grube. “They are incredible
partners in keeping our students and
school community safe. While we all will
agree that this is an intolerable and unacceptable
incident, we can’t let it diminish
the hard work that goes into and the many
benefits that are derived from student athletic
events and other extracurricular activities.”
Grube said the district will continue to
evaluate what occurred and will look for
“additional opportunities to improve our
practices and other systems to ensure the
safety of our students, staff, families, and
guests attending our events.”