Coatesville school bus hit by gunfire, football game canceled as precaution, officials say

No injuries were reported after a Coatesville Area School District bus was struck by gunfire Thursday afternoon, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and Coatesville police said.

A football game between Coatesville Area Senior High School and Downingtown East High School scheduled for Thursday night was canceled “as a precautionary measure,” the Downingtown Area School District said.

“This afternoon, a Coatesville Area School District bus was struck by gunfire in Coatesville. No one was hurt,” Chester County District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe and Coatesville Police Department Chief Jack Lauffer said in a joint statement.

“No child should be subjected to gunfire on a school bus. This is an active, high priority investigation,” they said, adding that anyone with information should call Coatesville police at 610-384-2300.

Catherine Van Vooren, superintendent of the Coatesville Area School District, released a statement Thursday night saying the shooting occurred just before 2:30 p.m. and that the bus was struck by two bullets.

The bus was carrying students from Coatesville Area Senior High School and Coatesville Area School District Intermediate High School, she said.

The Downingtown Area School District said in a statement posted on Facebook: “As a precautionary measure, we have mutually decided to cancel tonight’s football game” between Downingtown East and Coatesville Area Senior High Schools.

“We understand that this is disappointing news, and we will provide updates on a potential makeup date as soon as possible,” the district said.

“Please join us in offering our support and solidarity to the Coatesville community during this difficult time,” the district said.

On Thursday evening, another high school in Chester County announced it was canceling a football game after receiving a report about potential violence.

Amy Jenkins, principal of Unionville High School, said her school was notified by Pennsylvania State Police about the threat of a knife fight at the scheduled game between Unionville and Kennett High School.

“As a precautionary measure, our schools have made the mutual decision to postpone tonight’s game” as state police continue to investigate, Jenkins said in a statement.