NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Parents say kids ducked to the ground, afraid for their lives as bullets flew during a lacrosse practice in Newport News.
“You certainly don’t expect for it to happen,” said father Taylor Bigley.
Bigley says his son's lacrosse team was practicing on Sunday when they heard rapid gunfire.
“We immediately shouted for all the kids to get down and take cover,” he recalled.
The group of 11- to 18-year-olds were on the TowneBank Athletic Field, but police say the shots came from a nearby apartment complex.
“We weren’t the target as it would appear, but it doesn’t give you much of a great feeling anyway,” Bigley said.
No one was hurt, but police say a bullet popped a vehicle's tire.
For Bigley, the whole situation was too close for comfort. He's now taking his concerns to city leaders.
“I’m not one that’s ever spoken to city council nor have I ever written them before, but obviously this event was impact,” he said.
He sent an email detailing what happened on Sunday and is asking council to consider building more fields with astroturf. He says there aren't enough options throughout the city.
“It’s very important with today’s youth’s sports for kids to have safe places to play,” Bigley said.
So far, only one member has responded, but Bigley says he'll be at next week's meeting. He doesn't want to encounter a situation with a different outcome.
“They’ll lose residents if they don’t have appropriate places and safe places for kids to play,” he said.
