A NorCal football coach was unfortunately caught in the crossfire and injured after stepping in to break up a fight.
The incident went down this past Tuesday in front of Vallejo High School (VHS), part of the San Francisco Bay Area’s North Bay region.
“At approximately 3:40 p.m., an argument between students and unknown males occurred,” Vallejo City Unified School District Superintendent William Spalding said in a statement, according to the Times-Herald.
“The fight was broken up by staff members. As the three males fled the area, a shooting occurred, and the staff member was struck at least once, suffering a non-life-threatening injury,” he continued.
It’s worth adding that the incident was caught on camera and began circulating on Twitter.
You can check out the video down below.
Vallejo High School Football Coach Joe Pastrana Shot Trying to Stop Fight.9/14/2022 pic.twitter.com/bq8zMJ5t8L
— D. Scott @eclipsethis2003 (@eclipsethis2003) September 14, 2022
The staff member in question was identified as VHS assistant football coach Joe Pastrana; he sustained an injury to his upper hip area, and he’s recovering at a local hospital.
Mike Wilson III, head football coach at VHS, remarked that the team is “taking the news very hard,” according to the Times-Herald.
“Everyone was in the locker room getting dressed for practices when we heard something was happening,” Josh Ramos, the school’s athletic director and head baseball coach, noted, the Times-Herald reports. “So I said, ‘Hey let’s just wait here for a minute or two before we find out what’s going on.’ When we found out what happened, all practices were canceled. When it was safe, we told everyone to go home.”
Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams spoke on the situation on Tuesday night and gave Pastrana a shoutout.
“This is a very courageous staff member that potentially saved another child’s life or multiple people’s lives,” Williams said, the Times-Herald reports. “It’s a tragedy anytime there is a shooting anywhere near a school. This is a senseless act of violence committed by some individuals who do not value human life.”
“Enough is Enough. It’s a sad day anyone is shot in front of our children at school where they should feel safe,” Williams continued.
The matter is reportedly still being investigated, and anyone who may have information on the incident is encouraged to contact the Vallejo Police Department Detective Division at (707)648-4524.
