Student and grandmother remember shooting at football game at North College Hill

UPDATE: Cincinnati Public Schools released the following statement regarding the game on Saturday afternoon:

“Cincinnati Public Schools learned today that a police investigation concluded that, contrary to initial reports, a student-athlete at Woodward Career Technical High School was not grazed by a bullet during the North College Hill football game, but rather was injured as a result of the shooting during the game.”

CINCINNATI (WXIX) – A North College Hill High School student and his grandmother were shaken Friday after a shooting at a football game left one athlete injured.

Tyler Mallory, an eleventh-grader and band member at North College Hill High School, remembers the moments when he heard gunshots before what was supposed to be the band's biggest halftime performance.

“I was super nervous,” Mallory said. “I tried to stay calm and make sure everyone was there.”

His grandmother, who was not at the game, heard the shots from her house and immediately called her grandson to pick him up from the stadium. She says her grandson was very upset.

“He was completely devastated. He got into the car and a teacher came with him and put him in the car. I could see that he wanted to cry. He didn't want to cry in front of the teacher,” Judy Mallory explained.

“It's a high school football game, the kids should be up there having the time of their lives. Friday Night Lights, you know? They should be having fun and enjoying themselves, they shouldn't have to go through this,” Judy continues.

According to NCH Superintendent Eugene Blalock, gunshots were heard around 8:15 p.m. Friday evening, just 150 yards from the stadium, behind the elementary school.

Officers responded to reports of gunfire. One person was grazed by a bullet and taken to the middle school gym. According to the Cincinnati Public School District, a student-athlete at Woodward Career Technical High School was injured by the gunfire.

“Cincinnati Public Schools is aware of this tragic event and our support continues to go out to the student, his family, friends and the school community,” CPS wrote in a statement Friday evening.

The game ended early and according to the NCH director, this will be North College Hill's last home game of the season.

Tyler says he feels sorry for the freshmen and seniors because their first or last football season is now ruined.

Friday night's shooting came just two weeks after shots were fired during NCH's game against Cincinnati Country Day, both games that were canceled.

North College Hill did not play the following week because their opponent, Miami Valley Christian Academy, did not want to travel there.

Judy expressed that the rise in gun violence is scary. She added that all she wanted to do was cry for the students on Friday night. She worries about her grandson's safety, but she's even more worried about his mental health.

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