Milwaukee Rec makes security changes following fatal shooting at flag football game

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Recreation has announced some security changes for its youth sporting events. It follows a deadly shooting last Saturday during a flag football game at South Stadium.

The Washington High field is a field of lessons. 

“My son Jeremiah, He is a nine-year-old and he is playing flag football," said Jaime Haeuser, a Milwaukee Public Schools' parent. “It's a spirit lifter, really, for these kids.”

There are lessons of teamwork, discipline, and determination taught on the field. Last Saturday, flag football turned into a lesson on safety. 

“Is this what we have here? Like, is this what the world is coming to? At a flag football game?" said Ashley Smith, an MPS parent.

At Milwaukee Public School's South Stadium, a deadly shooting during a flag football game killed 47-year-old Raysean Barnes of Milwaukee. A 30-year-old suspect was arrested in connection to the shooting. 

"That can bring so much anxiety to our children who are just out here to have fun and to us parents who are here to watch our kids enjoy their football games and just – it’s devastating," said Haeuser.

That's why Milwaukee Rec is moving some of its games from South Stadium to Pulaski Stadium. Others will take place at Washington High. All participants and fans will be scanned as they enter. Teams will be on opposite sidelines and all spectators will have to stay in the bleachers, no exceptions. 

“It’s a simple wand. We use it in school, and I think it's going to be a good thing moving forward," said Marvin Thomas, the head referee at Washington High School's flag football game.

Everyone was wanded prior to entry at the game. 

“It detects any type of objects that are metal, so we have people remove change, keys, things out of their pockets," said Thomas. 

Parents say it's a step in the right direction, but they're still concerned. 

“When I see them, I said thank you immediately, but I don’t think the wand is enough," said Smith. 

“The open fencing, there’s nothing securing the area completely," said Haeuser. 

They say they hope kids get the opportunity to participate in the most important lesson of all --just being kids. 

“In numbers, if we all stand together and like, try to come up with a resolution or a more powerful solution to safeguard our children, that will be great," said Smith.