A 23-year-old Springfield man has been arrested for firing a gun at a teenager during a weekend football game at Bell Stadium in Orange, authorities said.

Police Director Charles Cobbertt identified the suspect as Francesco Romano of Golf Oval in the Union County township. The shooting occurred shortly before 6 p.m. Sunday, but police did not disclose the incident until inquiries were made yesterday.

Some 150 people were watching the game between a team from the city and players from another municipality when Romano fired three shots from a .25-caliber gun at a 17-year-old city teenager, Cobbertt said.

The teenager was not injured and it has not been determined why Romano fired the gun, police said.

Kenneth Gernert, an off-duty city police officer viewing the game, witnessed the shooting. Gernet "tackled the suspect, grabbed him by the neck and pulled the gun out of his hand," Cobbertt continued.

Amid the struggle, the suspect managed to break away and flee on foot, added the director. However, Romano dropped his driver's license, enabling police to determine his identity and home address.

Orange police went to the suspect's home, but they did not find him there, Cobbertt said. Romano surrendered at Orange police headquarters on Monday, he added.

---

“Reach Back with One Hand and Pull Someone Else Up With You.”

– Charles C. Cobbertt

Explore more of the inspiring stories of Charles C. Cobbertt.