Home football game called because of shooting
By CAITLYN MELITE
The Tower
As Buffalo spirit spreads, fans pack the stands for Manteca High School’s first home football game of the 2026 season.
The stadium is filled with students, families and faculty supporting the athletes and coaches as they take the field against Chavez High School from Stockton.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this community. People bleed green and they love Manteca High as much as I do,” Manteca High principal Megan Peterson said. “That’s special.”
This year, the school is celebrating 100 years of football at Manteca High School. Five alumni were recognized for their achievements during the school’s first-ever “Herd of Honor” ceremony, held between the JV and varsity games.
The night was filled with excitement.
Then, everything changed.
Pop! Pop!
During the third quarter of the varsity game, students, fans and athletes reported hearing an unexpected and terrifying sound.
Shots fired.
Panic spread.
Fans rushed to find shelter.
Faculty and staff directed students and families toward safety, unsure of what might happen next. They filled the snack bars, press box, and spilled into the neighborhood behind the school, where the firehouse and strangers took in students.
Manteca High student photographer, Kal Ochoa, spoke on the terrifying experience.
“Our football coach told us to take a knee, so I thought someone on the opposing side was injured. I was trying to scope out the area and see what was happening and I heard loud thumping behind me. I turned around and saw a wave of people running to the south side of the stadium. Coaches continued to instruct us to lay down on the field, so we did. Police officers pointed towards the south end zone and told us to run,” Ochoa explained. “Everyone was hiding. Behind the bathrooms, food trucks, and vendors. Everyone was just running, hiding going towards Marin St, exiting from the South gate. There were over 400 people rushing to safety. It was crazy. I saw so many people crying because it was so scary and it’s just not something you ever expect at a high school football game.”
This event impacted more than those in the stands. Those working on the field also experienced trauma, worrying about the unknown. Ochoa was on the Manteca High sideline near the 40-yard line with a camera in hand. Ochoa, a junior, is the team’s official photographer.
Ochoa scrambled to the press box for safety.
“It was a traumatizing event. It was confusing and scary,” Ochoa said. “Counselors can help us by opening their doors to us and listening to our personal experiences. It was a scary thing, and I hope it will never happen again with the help of safety protocols and police officers on site.”
As a student, Ochoa hopes that fellow classmates will reach out for support, explaining that mental health counselors on campus can help by being present and having open doors for anyone who needs help processing this terrible experience.
The Manteca Police Department had six officers at the game, who quickly took control of the scene. During the incident, Stockton CHP sent 12 officers, and the Manteca Police Department sent an additional five officers to access the situation. In addition to MHS staff, Manteca police officers rushed fans to safety and began their ongoing investigation.
Peterson said student safety and well-being was and is the school’s chief priority in the moments and days after the incident. When school resumed on Monday, Peterson greeted campus with a message played over the school’s PA system.
She promised students and staff wouldn’t be pushed or pressed by curriculum but consoled as they dealt with the emotions attached to a school shooting. The school also made counselors available to those who needed to talk.
“I want everyone to feel safe on campus and be able to have fun. We don’t want people to worry about what may happen on campus, so we’re reviewing policies and procedures as well as putting additional layers to safety implements, ensuring the safety of everyone here at Manteca High,” Peterson said. “Kids can’t have fun if they don’t feel safe. They can’t enjoy what it means to be a high school student if they don’t feel safe.”
Through an unexpected and frightening situation, the school community showed the importance of looking out for one another and keeping each other safe. Peterson assures MHS staff, students, families and faculty that she understands their safety concerns and is actively working towards the safety of all people on campus.
What could have been a tragedy instead became a moment of community. Manteca High students, staff, athletes, families and fans worked together to get to safety and look out for one another.
“The way that people in the stands came together to take care of each other, the community, the homes that opened their doors to our students,” Peterson said. “I just couldn’t be more proud of this community. It’s unfortunate that it took something like this for us to remember how much people love and care about this special place, but it was so present for me.”