IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Following multiple arrests and "threats of mass violence" during the high school football game Friday, Statesville High School and West Iredell concluded their game Monday without fans in the stadium.
The incident happened at Statesville High School on Oct. 6. Shortly after several people were arrested on drug and weapon possession charges. Iredell-Statesville Schools district leaders and police decided to evacuate the stadium and postpone the game after police learned of a threat.
"It makes me feel like we aren't safe," Patricia Peterson, a Statesville High School alumnae and fan, said. "We could be an innocent bystander and you know, get caught up in somebody else's situations and stuff. And we don't want to feel like that. We want to be able to go and support our football team."
Peterson said she had family who came to the game as part of a reunion.
"This was a weekend of a reunion, a 35-year reunion for some of the kids that have graduated like in ’88," Peterson said. "And they were here this weekend for that particular rivalry game and they just wanted to be able to enjoy themselves and come into town and see some of their classmates and just have a good time."
None of the people arrested last week were students, according to police. The suspects included 20-year-old Keonta Chambers, who was wanted for eight outstanding felony warrants related to a shooting that injured a 14-year-old in September. Two people who were with Chambers were also arrested. Officers said they found a handgun with an extended magazine and marijuana inside a vehicle belonging to Chambers.
As a result of the safety concerns, school leaders opted to reschedule the game for 4:30 p.m. on Monday without fans.
"I hate it for our fans, students and community that we could not finish the game," Superintendent Jeff James said.
The game was suspended with just under five minutes left in the third quarter. At the time, West Iredell led Statesville 18-13.
The incident at Friday night's game was the latest in a string of brawls at games in the Charlotte metro area.
Union County Public Schools has enacted new safety measures after a fight near a stadium earlier this season. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools made changes a week after a fight during the Harding University High School game.
The Chesterfield County School District, across the state line in South Carolina, also implemented a chaperone policy, requiring students in eighth grade or below to be accompanied by a chaperone aged 21 or older.
WCNC Charlotte sent an email to the ISS district spokesperson to ask if any additional safety protocols would be added to future games. WCNC Charlotte has yet to receive a response.
Contact Shamarria Morrison at smorrison@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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