Incident at Frederick Douglass footfall game has district reviewing policies

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — Frederick Douglass High School is reviewing its security policies at school events after a scare at its home opener football game Friday night.

The school says a middle schooler in the stands shouted someone had a gun, which caused widespread panic.

People expecting to watch the first high school football game of the season, instead, watched something scarier play out.

The football game was against Bryan Station.

You can see in the video, the game was interrupted by fans running in a panic from the stands, some taking cover by laying down in the bleachers, the players laying flat on the ground to become less of a potential target.

Dawn White’s nephew was at the game.

“Thankfully when everything occurred he was smart enough to run to parking lot and leave the school,” says White.

The school says it found no gun, or evidence of shots fired, despite social media posts to the contrary.

Jon Akers is a former high school principal in Fayette County who now heads up the Kentucky Center for School Safety.

“The bottom line here is if we’re gonna stop this from happening in our communities around our state we’ve gotta flex strong on this thing and make sure kids get the message that we’re not gonna put up with it,” says Akers.

A lot of taxpayer money has gone into increased security to ensure students are safe inside schools, but what’s being done at events outside like football games?

Here’s what White and Akers think needs to happen.

“Maybe not bring backpacks or something. They’re gonna have to implement something. Because in order to just make parents feel safe, in order to allow their kids to go to the games, something has to be done,” says White.

“First thing is teach our kids appropriate behaviors and what to do, what not to do, what to take to games, what not to take to games. It may come to one day like we’re doing at college games and pro games where you have to go through a checkpoint where they look through your purses,” says Akers.

The high school says it’s reviewing policies about entering the games, including requirements that younger students be accompanied by an adult in the future.

We reached out to Lisa Deffendall, spokesperson for the district:

“We are actively investigating to determine those responsible for inciting this panic. We are thankful that no one was injured. We will be examining our policies and practices to ensure the safety of everyone who gathers to cheer on our student athletes, which may include limitations on unaccompanied minors at games.”