Jacksonville- At the conclusion of the Lee vs Raines football game Friday night, gun shots rang out in front of William M. Raines High School sending students, players and fans into a panic. The aftermath left two high school students injured and another recent Raines graduate dead sparking fear, sorrow and outrage across the world.
Shots fired in the parking lot of Raines vs Lee after the game. People running! “Someone got shot in the face” @WJXTBJackson @BrentASJax @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/lBt7MNfu7n
— Andre' Ellis🗯 (@andreellis55) August 25, 2018
Police still pulling into Raines. Police tape around the school. Terrible scene after a great game between Raines and Lee pic.twitter.com/E4rTWE5J8M
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) August 25, 2018
Players wrestled with the reality that one of their former classmates lie dead at the entrance of their football field house. Students and family members suffered the agonizing loss of a loved one. All while the community and country searches for answers to the growing problem that is shootings at high school football games.
PALM BEACH SHOOTING: Shooting at Florida high school football game leaves 2 injuried. Two adults were hospitalized after #shots were fired during a football game in Florida between Palm Beach Central High School & William T. Dwyer High School. #Florida #shooting #NEWS #august18 pic.twitter.com/Vi9maqyIMU
— Nelson Toro (@Nelsonpuntocom) August 18, 2018
Another shooting last night at a high school football game last night – this one in California. As @SageLazzaro said, sirens are the new Friday night lights in America.
We don’t have to live this way. We shouldn’t allow our children to die this way. https://t.co/5nvdZKVjFp
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) August 25, 2018
As the community copes with the senseless tragedy and searches for solutions to the problems that faces us, the Jaguars began the important process of healing and uplifting Saturday at their preseason game. The organization invited the Raines Vikings football team on the sidelines of their preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. High School football players took selfies and were embraced by all-pro NFL athletes in a show of support for the team.
Much love to defending state champions, the Raines High School football team. pic.twitter.com/GAFJ2tRITN
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 25, 2018
The show of support has come from as far as Japan for the school, yet the support from individuals and entities in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida is what’s needed the most. The event marks the third incident in consecutive years that has occurred at the annual Lee vs Raines football game. Last year at Lee High School, students and fans began to run at the conclusion of the game resulting in football players, and students falling to the ground to protect themselves from potential stray bullets. The year before last, there was a 30 minute stoppage in play during the game at Raines High School when students and fans began running frantically. Players laid flat on the ground in response of the incident for precautionary measures.
Temporary stoppage in play due to disturbance in crowd. Raines vs Lee. Players instructed to get down on field pic.twitter.com/qARqFg2EMw
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) August 27, 2016
Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene said in a recorded message “This is becoming our new normal, one that I am not willing to openly accept”. Unlike previous incidents in the rivalry and around the country, this one escalated into the death of a young man.
Police reveal the identity of the murder victim at Raines shooting
His death stains the sidewalk of an historic high school to which famous names such as NFL Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins attended, and Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Hayes holds an annual National Track & Field meet in his name. The football game, which ended in a 16-15 win for Lee, is in serious jeopardy of losing its great rivalry.
The game is one of the hottest draws in the area, yet the safety and security of the student athletes is the number one priority. It’s a shame that a game that is meant to create fun in the hearts of everyone resulted in creating fear, and immense pain for so many. Something must be done. Something more must be done.
Lead Photo via William M Raines Twitter Account
