Semi-Pro Football Game At Gwinnett Park Ends With Gunfire

SUGAR HILL, GA — A Snellville man was wounded Saturday night after a semi-pro football game at Gary Pirkle Park turned into a shootout — the kind with guns.

According to Gwinnett County Police, investigators believe the game was cancelled after the two teams began brawling on the field. Shortly thereafter, gunshots were fired in the area between the parking lot and the bathrooms.

When the police finally did arrive at about 10 p.m., they found a “very large crowd of people running and screaming” and a “massive amount of chaos,” according to the incident report. A spokesperson for the Gwinnett police said detectives believe at least 100 people were present when the shooting started.

Michael Rolle of Snellville told police he was trying to crawl to safety but was shot in the foot anyway. After being treated at the scene by paramedics, he was taken to a local hospital by relatives. Rolle was not charged with a crime.

State Representative David Clark of Buford posted to Facebook on Sunday that he and his wife “heard the gunfire last night, as this is close to our neighborhood. It is concerning and keeping our families safe is my top priority.”

Even though this was a semi-professional game, there’s still some confusion as to exactly who sanctioned it.

Both teams — the Georgia Cardinals and the Columbus Storm — claim to be members of the Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League (APDFL). However, only the Storm is listed on the APDFL’s website as a member, and a spokesperson for the league denied to WXIA-TV of Atlanta that the game was even official.

"The APDFL has NOT played a game since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic," a spokesperson said to the Atlanta TV station. "We won't be having ANY games again until Feb. 2021."

The Cardinals announced on their Facebook page Thursday that they were members of the APDLF, but a league spokesperson told WXIA-TV that they had only applied and had not yet been accepted. The post was still visible early Monday afternoon.

Officials of Sugar Hill, where the park is located, responded Monday by ending future use of the field for adult developmental leagues "until such time as a thorough review of policies related to all of our rentals can be completed," according to The Gwinnett Daily Post.

Meanwhile, Gwinnett detectives are seeking information on what happened Saturday night. No arrests have been announced as of Monday.

Anyone with information to share in this case can call Gwinnett police at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477 (TIPS) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.

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