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Police release first photos of gunfire horror at baseball game

Police have released photos and offered a reward for information after America was left shocked by shooting chaos at a baseball game.

George Fitz-Gibbon and New York Post
2 min read
July 19, 2021 - 8:26AM
Fans take cover inside the dugout after gunfire was heard.
Fans take cover inside the dugout after gunfire was heard.

Police in Washington are offering a $10,000 reward for an arrest in Sunday’s shooting that left three wounded and sparked chaos at a Washington Nationals baseball game.

Surveillance photos have also been released of a grey Toyota fleeing the scene following the 9.30pm shooting, which prompted many fans to run from their seats in panic and brought the game between the Nationals and San Diego Padres to a screeching halt in the sixth inning.

Chaos erupted during the game at Nationals Park when gunfire was heard inside the stadium – with fans running or taking cover under seats.

“The suspect vehicle in this case is described as a grey Toyota Corolla with a missing hubcap on the rear driver’s side wheel and dark tinted windows,” the Metropolitan Police Department said in a press release on Sunday.

Fans run for cover after shots were heard during the baseball game.
Fans run for cover after shots were heard during the baseball game.
Police officers patrol a street near the Nationals Park stadium as the game between the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres was suspended due to a shooting.
Police officers patrol a street near the Nationals Park stadium as the game between the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres was suspended due to a shooting.

“The vehicle is believed to be displaying a Virginia temporary tag,” the police statement said. “The vehicle was captured by a nearby surveillance camera and can be seen in the photos.”

Police are looking for two suspects believed to be involved in the shooting.

The gunfire left three people with non-life-threatening injuries, including a fan who was outside the stadium at the time they were hit.

Two others believed to be involved in the shooting later showed up at a local hospital and are being questioned by police, police said.

Inside Nationals Park, the shooting sent players scrambling for their families and rushing into the clubhouse, while fans ducked behind seats or ran for the exits.

An announcement by stadium officials asked fans to briefly shelter in place.

Baseball star’s courageous act in shooting

Nationals and San Diego Padres players brought family and baseball fans into the clubhouse after the shooting, videos and photos show.

Padres players Manny Machado, Fernando Will Myers hoist spectators from the stands along the third baseline onto the field, then hurry into the dugout, video taken by MLB write Dan Clark shows.

Padres players Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr and Wil Myers were seen hoisting spectators from the stands along the third baseline onto the field, then hurrying into the dugout, shown in video taken by MLB writer Dan Clark.

“Players, including Fernando Tatis Jr just ran into stands and grabbed family members and brought them to clubhouse,” Padres beat writer Kevin Acee said in a tweet, with footage showing a different angle of the fans being shepherded into the dugout and clubhouse by the athletes.

“Hope everyone is safe! Just keep the prayers up,” tweeted Tatis Jr, a star shortstop, about three hours after the gunfire.

Andrew Golden, a Washington Post reporter, said fans in at least two sections of the stadium were invited into the dugout by the professional baseball players.

“Here at Nats Park as fans are making their way out of the stadium. Talked to a fan who said the spectators in section 112-113 ducked down when they heard gunshots and everyone followed suit,” Golden reported in a tweet.

“Tatis and Machado opened the gate to the field and took fans to the dugout.”

Originally published as Police release first photos of gunfire horror at baseball game

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/american-sports/mlb/police-release-first-photos-of-gunfire-horror-at-baseball-game/news-story/c00fd286c2130c4d2c2a57fe278c3b64