LAWRENCE — Two teens were arrested after shots were fired in the parking lot of Lawrence Central High School during a basketball game Wednesday night.
Lawrence police arrested two teenage boys, aged 14 and 15, in connection with the shooting incident that occurred at around 9:30 p.m., according to a police report.
The 15-year-old was carrying a 9-mm Glock handgun modified with a machine-gun conversion device known as a switch, according to the report. He was initially charged with possession of a machine gun, possession of a gun on school property and resisting law enforcement.
"There is nothing positive about a 14 or 15-year-old kid possessing a firearm at a high school basketball game," Lawrence Police Chief Gary Woodruff said.
The 14-year-old was carrying a 9-mm Taurus handgun, according to the report. He was initially charged with possession of a gun on school property, dangerous possession of a gun by a minor and theft of a firearm.
“These are kids. They have parents that need to be more interactive and cognizant of what their children are doing,” Woodruff said.
Police say the shots were fired in the parking lot as hundreds packed the bleachers for a basketball game between Lawrence Central and Lawrence North High School. Attendees had to go through metal detectors before allowed entrance to the game.
“To hear the fear in your kid’s voice is a really helpless thing, when you can’t do anything about it,” Stephen Holder said.
Holder says his daughter and her friend were at the game. He described the moments after waiting to pick them up.
“Between the reactions of people and calling my daughter to figure out if everything was okay – I heard this frantic response in her voice and at that point, I knew something was going on,” Holder said. “At that point, you just have to make a B-Line to find them.”
The school was evacuated as a safety precaution. There were no reported injuries.
