Incident involving person with gun near Rochester Area High School in Beaver County ends peacefully

Rochester Township police said Sunday morning that the investigation was ongoing into the shooting incident that caused a nearly two-hour delay to the start of a high school football game Friday night in Beaver County.

Kickoff for the start of the Rochester Area High School and Shenango Junior/Senior High School was held up after police responded to a call of a man with a gun near the football stadium. Players and spectators were evacuated from the football stadium as police searched for the suspect, who was eventually taken into custody shortly after 8 p.m.

Rochester police officer Travis Mohrbacher said Sunday morning that no charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing. The suspect’s name has not been released.

According to a Facebook post, township police described the incident as involving a “distraught individual” who went into a wooded area with a gun and threatened to harm himself. Police confirmed the suspect fired two shots into the ground and several hundred feet away from any responding officer.

“The incident ended peacefully with the individual coming out and turning in to police. The individual was transported to the hospital for an evaluation and treatment. During the entire incident there was never a threat to the public, but all precautions were taken to make sure of that,” according to the Facebook post.

The Rostraver-Shenango football was eventually allowed to begin but was suspended during the second half because of weather. The game resumed Saturday and was completed with a 13-0 victory by Rochester.