Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres shortstop, quickly thought of his family and friends as the shots began to echo around Nationals Park.
Tatis ran down the left field line from the bench Saturday night and helped open a gate for the stands. He then began guiding a group back into the dugout to shelter.
“Our family, our loved ones, and little children. Tatis stated Sunday that she felt like someone had to take them. “I felt like the clubhouse was the safest and we were trying get our families to a safe place.”
When the top of the sixth inning of the game between Washington Nationals and Padres was about to end in front of 33,000 fans, several shots were heard from South Capitol Street just outside the third base side of the stadium.
However, at the moment no one could tell if the rapid succession of shots was coming from the ballpark or out.
Ryan Zimmerman, a long-time Nationals player, said that while it doesn’t make things better, someone could have shot a gun in the stadium.
According to Ashan Benedict (executive assistant police chief of the Metropolitan Police Department), three people were injured in the shooting. It was an exchange of gunfire between two people.
According to a police report, a woman who was at the game was waiting outside for an Uber when she was hit by gunfire. According to police, she sustained a graze wound on her back.
According to police, the two other victims of gunshot wounds who entered a hospital were stable.
Jayce Tingler, Padres manager, was on his way with Jordan Baker, umpire for a pitching change. San Diego led 8-4 at the time of the shooting.
Baker recalled Baker saying, “He’s like,” “I’m like, ‘yeah. I believe so’ and it kinda registered what it could have been, and obviously it wasn’t a nightmare.”
It was a chaotic scene that quickly developed. Some fans ran to get out of the stadium as the Padres cleared it. Others hid and sought cover.
“Everybody is running. It was insane. It was impossible to understand what was happening. Tatis stated that it could have been one or two people. “I was trying to get to safety and get our families.”
Manny Machado, Tatis, and Wil Myers were praised for their efforts to keep fans safe.
Tatis stated that “the situation changed immediately.” “There are no more players or fans. “I feel like everyone’s just people trying to be secure.
The game was stopped and resumed on Sunday. The Padres won 10-4. Washington won the regular game 8-7.
It was quite the contrast to the previous night when there were several incidents.
Dave Martinez, Nationals manager, was on the ground making sure that his players were safe as the shots rang.
Martinez stated, “Then I began worrying about their families and trying my best to get them down to football players.” “And then I began worrying about the fans.”
Fans on the first base side fled their seats after witnessing the reactions on the third base side. Some went down onto the field.
Martinez stated, “There were a lot of fans, and they were in our dugout. I wanted them to be safe.” We got them through the tunnel, got them inside safely, and tried to keep their safety. It was about keeping our people safe and trying my best to keep them calm.
Martinez, like Tingler, was emotional when he recounted the events.
Minutes later, the Nationals Park scoreboard displayed a message stating that the incident had occurred outside the park and that fans should stay inside. Fans were directed to leave the right- and center-field gates approximately 10 minutes later.
Tingler stated that “we started to get word” that everything took place outside the stadium. “That was when we felt a little better. It’s impossible to feel great.”
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, and Mark Lerner, team owner, said Sunday that they don’t believe the shooting targeted the Washington Nationals, ballpark, or fans.
They said, “We are grateful for the extraordinary cooperation of Saturday’s fans who did everything in stressful circumstances and the police and fire emergency medical personnel who responded,”
Nationals fans who have tickets for Saturday night can redeem their tickets for another game in the season.
“Davey Martinez put it best: our fans are our family.” The team expressed appreciation for each one of you, and they look forward to seeing them back at Nationals Park.”
