Decision to move Middletown’s football game made for safety reasons, police chief says

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (WXIX) - The decision to move Friday’s Middletown vs Colerain football game was done for safety purposes following the shooting of two teens on Louis Place, Police Chief David Birk said.

Around 3 p.m. Thursday, the teens were shot by the suspect, who is another teenager, the chief explained. The two victims were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A fourth teen was at the scene with the suspected shooter, according to Chief Birk.

The chief said police found one of the teen suspects not long after the shooting, but officers could not find the gun or the other teenager.

Police and Middletown City School District decided to move the game to Colerain High School, since the weapon was still not recovered, explained the chief and Assistant Superintendent Deborah Houser.

Chief Burke said at the time he thought moving the football game was the best decision.

The parent of the second teen suspect brought them to the police station later in the night, Chief Birk said.

When asked why the game was not moved back to Barnitz Stadium, the chief said word of the relocation was already circulating.

The Chief says by the time the two suspects were turned in and interviewed the message that the game location had been changed was already circulating.
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As for charges, the chief said the suspected shooter is facing felonious assault charges. The other teenager is facing falsification and resisting arrest charges, he said.

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