A California man is in custody after a wild, dangerous scene unfolded recently at a girls’ high school basketball game.
According to the Los Angeles Times, during a Jan. 24 high school basketball game in Corona between the Centennial High Huskies and the Santiago High School Sharks, players tussled for the ball after a foul was called. A few players exchanged shoves.
At that point, a man left the stands, went onto the court, and punched several players. A bystander restrained him. A statement by the Corona Police Department reports the man then said he was getting a gun. According to the report, “The suspect walked to the parking lot and retrieved a handgun from his vehicle. While in the parking lot, the suspect pointed the handgun at several students and threatened to shoot them. The suspect fled the area just before officers arrived at the school.”
According to the Times, police arrested Thaddis Brooks, 39, of Perris at his home on Feb. 2. He has been charged with suspicion of making criminal threats, brandishing a deadly weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing a firearm on school grounds and child abuse. He is being held in lieu of $350,000 bail, with a court appearance scheduled for Feb. 6.
Brooks has a lengthy criminal record, including several felony convictions. The Time reported he is related to one of the players in the game.
Incidents like this underscore why many school districts have one or more security officers working all athletic events, although such measures are expensive. The Corona-Norco Unified School District said in a statement it is implementing additional security, including metal detectors, at sports events.
