Schools Study Tighter Security at Games : Violence: Gunfire halted two football matches Friday, including one incident in which two students were wounded by ricochets.

Los Angeles school officials said Saturday they would re-evaluate security measures for high school football games at Jackie Robinson Stadium in the wake of yet another shooting incident Friday.

“We’re going to take another look at how we set up our supervision,” said Sid Thompson, deputy superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. “We’re going to have to expend a little more manpower.”

The stadium, which is next to Dorsey High School on Rodeo Road, was the scene of gunfire two years ago during a game between Dorsey and Crenshaw high schools. Police estimated that at least 20 shots were fired from two different locations. There were no injuries.

During a game Friday afternoon between the same schools, two students were hit by ricocheting bullets during the final minute of the contest. One was struck in the arm and the other was hit in the leg, but neither injury was serious, Thompson said.

“You could hear bullets close to your ears,” said Robert Garrett, Crenshaw’s coach. “You knew gunfire was headed in your direction. I’m very concerned for the safety of my players and for myself.”

Witnesses said 10 to 15 people exchanged fire across the field, but Thompson said shots were fired from only one direction and ricocheted off a refreshment stand. The gunfire prompted about 100 players and coaches to drop to the ground and the crowd of 1,000 to flee.

Officials called the game off and awarded Dorsey the victory.

Police said Saturday that they have no suspects in custody.

Because the schools had trouble during their game two years ago, Friday’s kickoff was moved to 3 p.m. from the traditional 8 p.m. start.

Fans waited in long lines to get into the game as police officers frisked all who entered the stadium in an effort to weed out spectators carrying weapons.

Thompson said officials will concentrate on beefing up security on Rodeo Road, a major thoroughfare at the entrance to the stadium. However, he said, the open design of the facility makes it impossible to keep gang members and outsiders away during games.

“All it takes is one rascal with a gun in the right place and that’s what you get,” Thompson said. The shooting was not the result of interschool rivalry, he said.

Ava Shah, president of the Dorsey booster club, said she plans to talk to school administrators Monday about discontinuing football contests against Crenshaw. Since the schools compete in different divisions, she said, it is not necessary that the schools play each season.

“I’ve been attending Dorsey games since 1984, and we always have problems in games against Crenshaw,” said Shah, whose sons Sharmon Shah and Sultan Ali play football at Dorsey. “A bullet missed Sharmon’s foot by only five feet in (Friday’s) game. I worry about the safety of my children. You never know what will happen.”

Another shooting incident Friday brought an early end to a game between Franklin and Lincoln high schools played at Roosevelt High School. There were no injuries or arrests.

Thompson said the shooting occurred on a street near the playing field but appeared to be unrelated to the game.

“You could see across the street from the stadium that there was some activity going on,” said Randy Rodriguez, Lincoln’s coach. “I’m not sure if the shots came from a house or a passing car.”

Lincoln was leading Franklin, 14-6, late in the fourth quarter when the shots were fired. The police ordered everyone to get down. Principals of the two schools met a few minutes later and decided to call the game, with Lincoln awarded the victory.

“It’s a sad way to win a game,” Rodriguez said. “Things like this are a big bummer for high school athletics and the safety of our kids.”

Police escorted Lincoln’s bus back to the school, where more police gathered to make sure there was no further trouble, Rodriguez said.