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Rochester Twp. active shooter surrenders, receiving mental health treatment

Beaver County Times - 10/24/2020

Oct. 25--ROCHESTER TWP. -- Fans were forced to evacuate Rochester Stadium and players from Shenango and Rochester retreated to their locker rooms Friday night due to an active shooter less than two miles away.

According to Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier, police were called to Whistler Drive in Rochester Township around 6:30 p.m. after reports of a man experiencing a mental health condition.

When officers arrived, the man had fired a gun and fled into nearby wooded area Irvin Cemetery, Lozier said.

"The township called for ESU backup," Lozier said.

The Emergency Services Unit along with police, mental health professionals and negotiators barricaded the man and stayed in contact with him.

The man, whose name has not been released, eventually surrendered at around 8 p.m. and is currently receiving treatment for his condition, Lozier said.

No charges have been filed as of yet, Lozier said, though charges could come after further investigation.

"Police departments from all over responded," Lozier said. "Over a dozen agencies and emergency services" were at the scene.

Lozier commended Rochester Township police and the many departments who responded. No one was injured during the incident.

At nearby Rochester Stadium, the Rams' 7 p.m. showdown with Shenango was delayed roughly an hour and 45 minutes due to the active shooter situation.

"We knew what was going on," said Rochester quarterback/safety J.D. Azulay. "We were in contact (with people). No, we weren't scared. But it was a little creepy."

"I've never seen anything like it. I've never heard about anything like it," said running back/linebacker Sal Laure. "It was a shock to all of us.

"I was getting updates from different people and checking in with my family, making sure they were alright. We knew it was a shooter out there. I wasn'tt scared myself. I was scared for other people outside, especially my family.".

The game resumed later on, but was postponed again due to lightning.

Around 10:28 p.m., Rochester led Shenango 13-0 with 1:09 left in the third quarter.

That's when the referees stopped the game due to the threat of lightning.

After the game resumed at noon Saturday, Rochester finished its shutout win over Shenango.

"It's been a long night," Rochester coach Gene Matsook said Friday night. "It's been tough for both teams. The circumstances earlier, that was tough. But then resumed play, and that was great. And now we got a lightning delay."

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