Fan will not be allowed in the stands Friday for Penn Hills' football game against Woodland Hills, the Penn Hills School District announced Wednesday.
The game will be reduced to players, coaches and "essential staff." No cheerleaders or band members will be allowed either.
The decision comes as police continue to investigate a shooting Saturday at a North Versailles haunted hayride that killed one teenager and injured another.
15-year-old Steven Eason from Wilmerding, who was also a Central Catholic High School student, was shot in the chest and stomach and died from his injures, another 15-year-old, who is a Penn Hills student, was shot in the shoulder and is in stable condition.
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Authorities are still continuing to search for a suspect.
In a statement, Penn Hills explained they are closing the stands to fans on Friday out of fears of further violence.
After consultation with our law enforcement contacts and violence prevention experts who are active throughout Allegheny County, the Penn Hills School District is restricting attendance at our Friday, September 17 home football game versus Woodland Hills. We believe restricting those allowed onsite to football players, coaches, and essential event staff only is prudent given recent events that have affected many youth in the Pittsburgh Area, and not just those enrolled at Penn Hills and Woodland Hills School Districts.
We have been advised that unresolved feelings and emotions about what happened last weekend in North Versailles are being further fueled by a county-level police investigation that remains open.
Beyond the obvious consideration of public safety, we believe this event restriction will give both football teams the opportunity to enjoy being kids for the night and to engage in healthy competition that is free of worries about who might be onsite during the game and for what purpose.
Penn Hills School Board President Erin Vecchio tells News Radio KDKA's Lynne Hayes-Freeland the district isn't taking any chances after losing four students to gun violence alone last year.
She said the decision to close the game to fans came after conversations with police.
"I feel bad for the parents. I feel bad for the band, the cheerleaders, but this is what the police told us this is what we could have on the field."
Gates around the high school will be locked at 4 p.m. on Friday with no traffic allowed to go through during the game.
The game will be live streamed for those who cannot attend.