A Sunday evening soccer match between St. Louis City SC 2 and Austin FC II was suspended after gunfire rang out near Energizer Park in St. Louis, sending fans ducking for cover and prompting a shelter-in-place order at the stadium.
The MLS Next Pro match was underway when shots were fired at an apartment complex near North 17th and Chestnut streets, roughly three blocks east of the stadium.
The shooting happened at around 6:30 p.m., just a few minutes after a hydration break, according to reports. Police later confirmed that one person was taken into custody and a gun was seized in connection with the incident.
Video taken by fans inside the venue captured the chaotic moments after the gunfire, with spectators crouching low in the stands as the sound of shots echoed nearby.
Some fans recorded themselves sheltering under stadium structures and along the concourse as stadium staff worked to manage the situation.
Witnesses described frightening scenes both inside and outside the gates. One fan said pandemonium broke out near the main entrance when someone outside the gate began shooting, adding that their group had walked through that same gate only minutes earlier.
Another attendee said they ended up on the ground, lying over their kids as gunfire popped around them, near a spot called Maggie O’s, and said bullets were later found inside the stadium itself. A third person described shots being fired in and around the park, with everyone evacuating beneath the stadium.
As of 7:25 p.m., no injuries had been reported. The match was halted with the score still tied at 0-0, and players and staff were also moved to safety as a precaution.
Authorities have not released a full statement detailing what led to the shooting or whether additional suspects are being sought. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the gunfire remains ongoing, and police have not said whether the person taken into custody is facing charges.
Local outlet KSDK reported that the shooting took place at an apartment complex near the stadium grounds, and that officers responded quickly to the area.
Raw footage shared by fans and later picked up by news outlets showed the unsettling scene inside the park immediately after the gunfire, including people moving toward exits and taking cover.
Energizer Park, home to St. Louis City SC, has hosted MLS Next Pro matches as part of the club’s developmental program. Sunday’s game between the second-team squads of St. Louis City and Austin FC was still scoreless when the shooting forced officials to stop play.
It remains unclear whether the match will be rescheduled or how soon stadium operations will return to normal following the incident. Stadium security and local police are expected to review the event as part of the broader investigation.
The episode adds to a string of recent gun violence incidents that have unsettled communities and public gatherings across the country in recent months, with crowded public venues increasingly facing scrutiny over security measures during large events.
No further details about the shooter’s identity, motive, or relationship to the apartment complex have been confirmed.
Authorities are expected to provide updates as the investigation continues, and fans who attended the match are being asked to share any video or information that could assist police.
