Sarasota County School District cancels game at Southeast High School citing safety after gunfire
MANATEE -- The Sarasota County School District canceled the North Port High School girls basketball junior varsity and varsity away games Tuesday at Southeast High School, less than a week after a shooting took place after a basketball game at the school in Bradenton.
After the Venice High girls teams played at Southeast on Thursday night, and the team bus had already headed back to Venice, someone fired between seven and 15 shots on the Southeast High campus. Deputies collected nine shell casings at the scene in the 1200 block of 37th Avenue East.
A vehicle exiting the Southeast High School parking lot after a basketball game at 9 p.m. Dec. 10 was struck by a bullet, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
Manatee County Sheriff's Office officials said the victims, including a 39-year-old woman from Palmetto, were targeted and it was not a random incident, sheriff's spokesman Dave Bristow said.
No injuries were reported in the incident and deputies did not provide a description of any suspects.
"We haven't made any arrests made yet," said Bristow early Tuesday evening. "We're still working the case. We talked to one person of interest but that's kind of where are right now."
Bristow said the sheriff's office has been working closely with school officials. There is a person of interest, but no arrests have been made and the investigation is continuing.
Southeast High Athletic Director Daniel Bradshaw said Southeast agreed to cancel the nondistrict games after North Port made the request. He said there were no issues during or after boys basketball games Friday against St. Petersburg Gibbs and Saturday versus Palmetto. The boys team also plays at home games Tuesday night against Braden River and Thursday against Lakewood Ranch.
This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 8:26 PM with the headline "Sarasota County School District cancels game at Southeast High School citing safety after gunfire ."