Texas Youth Baseball Players Dive for Cover as Bullets Whiz by

A Sunday afternoon baseball game in Katy, Texas turned into a scene of panic when gunfire erupted near the field, forcing 12-year-old players to scramble for safety.

According to the Waller County Sheriff’s Office, three individuals fired weapons from a wooded pasture behind the Ameripark sports complex—known locally as The Rac. The bullets tore toward the field just as the Texas Colts, a youth team of 12-year-olds in light blue uniforms, were preparing for their next play.

One of the coaches, a 27-year-old man, was struck by a ricochet. He was hospitalized but released later that night. Authorities said the suspects have been identified and face charges of deadly conduct and related offenses.

“This was reckless,” the Sheriff’s Office stated on Facebook. “The shots were fired in the direction of children during a baseball game. Our priority now is accountability.”

Video from the scene shows young players screaming and diving for cover as parents rushed toward the dugouts. Twelve-year-old Colt player Colton Bierman described the terrifying moment to FOX26 Houston.

“I was about to pitch, walking out of the dugout,” Bierman recalled. “Five feet out and I just hear shots. I thought it was an active shooter. I started hiding. I didn’t know they were coming from the woods.”

Coaches reacted instantly, shielding kids behind a brick wall. “That’s the problem. They’re 12,” head coach Alex Smith said. “We weren’t worried about us. It was about getting those kids down and out.” Another coach compared the chaos to “being in Afghanistan.”

The Ameripark facility released a statement hours later, calling the incident “deeply shocking.”

“The safety and well-being of our players, families, coaches, staff and community is our top priority,” the statement read. “We are working closely with law enforcement, conducting our own internal review, and suspending all activities until further notice.”

The organization praised the quick response from first responders and the “outpouring of care” from the Katy community.

Incidents of gunfire near youth sporting events have become disturbingly common across the U.S. In recent years, games in states from North Carolina to Illinois have been interrupted by gunshots, raising questions about safety at family events.

For Bierman and his teammates, Sunday’s shooting left a mark far beyond the field. “We just wanted to play ball,” one parent said, shaking their head. “Instead, we were running for our lives.”