CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police were out in full force at four high school football games Friday night.
Police said students at those schools may be linked to a string of violence this week. That includes the shooting that killed 3-year-old Asiah Fiquero while he was sleeping in his northwest Charlotte home.
Qua’tonio Stephens, 21, was the first person to be charged in that case, and faced a judge Friday. He is accused of trying to hide the gun used to kill the toddler. He’s also charged with several other shooting, as well as leading police on a chase.
But police said there are still more people involved in this and they believe many of them are high school students.
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Channel 9′s Glenn Counts was at Julius Chambers High School Friday night where extra security measures were in place. He said at one point, it almost felt like there were more police officers than fans in the stands.
Here are the security rules Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools released for games on Friday night:
- No elementary or middle school student will be allowed to enter the stadium without a parent or guardian.
- All students and children must sit in the bleachers/stands; do not allow them to walk around during game time except to go to the restroom or concession stand.
- Place additional security/police in the parking lot after the game.
- There will be increased police/campus security associates presence at the football games.
“I think people are on edge,” said Felecia Burris, who is head of the Booster Club. “It’s not always the kids, it’s the surroundings that’s around the kids, but we got to keep our kids safe.”
[ Timeline: String of deadly shootings in Charlotte leave 16-year-old, 3-year-old dead ]
Last week, shots were fired at the game and all week, Julius Chambers was one of four schools on modified lockdown.
That didn’t discourage Natassja Bigelow whose son, Makai, plays on the team.
“It’s life. Things happen, but as long as they are in the right place and doing what they are supposed to do, I feel like they will be a good group of kids,” Bigelow said.
In addition to the added security, no elementary or middle school students were allowed to enter the stadium without a parent, and they had to sit in the stands and not roam around.
[ ALSO READ: CMS superintendent says recent violence, shootings involving students ‘has to stop’ ]
Dontae Henderson and Deron Gilford are parents. They were there last week and brought their sons to the game Friday night. They think the changes the district made worked.
“As you look around, it’s not like it was last week. Last week it was kids running over kids everywhere,” Gilford said.
Police are still looking for other suspect involved in the fatal shootings. They believe the suspects are in high school.
(Watch Below: CMS superintendent on recent violence involving students: ‘It has to stop’)
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