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Shooting At East Liberty Football Field Leaves 3 Wounded

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh police are searching for suspects after three people were wounded when gunfire rang out at a football field in East Liberty Saturday morning just after a midget league football game had ended.

The sounds of gunfire rang out just after 10 a.m. and caused panic and pandemonium in the stands of the field near Pittsburgh Obama 6-12 in the 500-block of N. Highland Avenue.

Parents rushed into the streets with their children. Some of the kids were in uniforms, others dressed as cheerleaders. But everyone was visibly upset and angry following the shooting.

"I ran over there. When I got over there, there was two people lying on the ground, a woman and a male," said one witness who did not want to be identified. "The male was shot in the chest."

The shots came during the Homecoming game between the East End Raiders and a team from Wilkinsburg on the field behind the former Peabody High School.

The identities of the three victims have not been released.

According to police, a 27-year-old man from Wilkinsburg was wounded in the chest and a 64-year-old woman from Verona suffered gunshot wounds to the stomach and shoulder.

Both were rushed to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital where they underwent emergency surgery and at last report were listed in critical condition.

The third victim, a 33-year-old woman, was shot in the hand, authorities said. She was also taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital and is in stable condition.

"A total disregard for humanity, that's the only thing I can say about that," said Aaron Gaines, a spectator at the game, "a total disregard for humanity."

It's believed the shootings were the result of a dispute between young adults that started Friday and carried over to the game.

Police say they believe the man who was shot may have possibly been involved in the argument along with other men from Wilkinsburg.

"The majority of the adults are trying to do what's right. They want to come just to enjoy the game," said Commander Cheryl Doubt, of Pittsburgh Police. "It's only when you get that minority of people who come in and decide they want to use that as their conflict-resolution place."

The football league pays for officers to be present during games following an incident at a game in 2010.

However, they had not arrived. Police are hoping to identify a suspect from a video surveillance camera that overlooks the stands.

"Everyone knows who did that. There were too many people in the bleachers who saw who did that," added the witness who did not want to be identified. "Whoever did it needs to come forward because now these people are taking lives into their own hands."

Anyone with information on the shooting is being asked to contact the Pittsburgh Homicide Squad at 412-323-7161.

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