Selma Police investigate shooting outside High School football game
As police investigate the shooting, controversy stirs in the community over how to deal with increasing violence.
SELMA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Selma's police chief held a meeting inside city hall Saturday afternoon about the shooting on Friday night. He said investigators are looking for a white car that people fired shots from.
Garner says the 24-year-old man they initially detained, was released after learning he was not a suspect and instead a victim. "His vehicle was struck by a white possibly honda that was driving recklessly in the area after the collision the occupants of the honda exited their vehicle and began firing shots at some individuals in the 3200 block of Thompson," said Greg Garner, Selma Police Chief.
Numerous shell casings around the area where it happened leads them to believe multiple people may have been involved.
"We are asking for the public, who may have any information about what happened last night, to call the Selma Police Department," said Greg Garner, Selma Police Chief.
Selma High School student Nicholas Luna was on the field Friday night playing his saxophone when the chilling sound of gunfire forced him and his band members to the ground during their halftime show.
"Almost everybody went to their knees and some people even started crying," said Nicholas Luna, Student.
Anna Mathis, a mother of three, was also there when hundreds of people started running for safety, some even ducking under the bleachers to take cover.
"It was terrifying I have never in my entire life felt fear for myself or my family," said Mathis.
While Selma's Police Chief was holding a press conference inside City Hall on Saturday, a group of residents waited outside to speak to him about their concerns of violence in the city.
"When you see the fear in your kids faces... and the fear in their voices -- crushes you," said Jaqueline Luna, Selma.
Jaqueline Luna says Selma has been plagued recently with shootings that are getting out of control. At least five people have been injured in shootings this year.
"Every few days there's a shooting so you hear it and you're just like, 'again, again?'" said Luna.
Matthew English has lived in Selma all his life. He teared up as he described the town he is now thinking about moving his family away from.
"I have seven kids, four step kids and three of my own. My little girl will probably not go to another game again. Not because of me, but because of her having the fear of the shooting," said English.
English says instead of the city building a new police department, they should focus on adding more officers to the streets.
"Building can come later safety of our children our community is more important than a building at the police department."
When asked about shootings in Selma, Garner says the numbers have increased.
"After nearly two months without a single call about a weapon being fired in our city, over the last couple weekends we have a number of weapon related offenses."
The new police department is being funded through a grant.
Stay with Action News and ABC30.com for more on this story.
