Crossbow bolt lands on Poplar Bluff High School football field during practice; police investigate

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (KBSI) — Poplar Bluff police are investigating after a crossbow bolt landed on the high school football field during practice Wednesday afternoon, prompting coaches to immediately move students to safety.

Poplar Bluff R-I School District Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman said the incident happened around 4:43 to 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, while students were participating in football practice.

According to Cornman, the crossbow bolt entered the field of play and became lodged in the turf. Football and soccer coaching staff immediately moved students off the field and into school facilities.

Coaches notified the district’s activities director and Cornman, while law enforcement was contacted to investigate.

“We do not have right now any definitive proof whether it was an individual that was out hunting or a person that was target practicing or somebody that was intending to do harm against our students or our staff,” Cornman said.

Investigators have not determined where the crossbow bolt came from or whether it was fired accidentally or intentionally.

Cornman said the high school’s proximity to wooded areas and land outside city limits raises the possibility that someone could have been hunting nearby. However, he emphasized that there is no evidence confirming a hunter was responsible.

“As the superintendent, I’m extremely disappointed that individuals didn’t exercise more caution,” Cornman said.

The district is working with law enforcement and exploring whether surveillance footage from school cameras could help identify the person responsible.

Cornman said the incident is especially concerning because of the number of students and community members who use facilities near the high school, including nearby schools, businesses and a hospital.

He emphasized the importance of knowing what lies beyond a target when using a weapon, particularly near areas where students may be present.

“When you’re going to hunt that close to our school district or our buildings, understand that there are students out there,” Cornman said. “And to be mindful and more careful of how they’re discharging their weapon.”

The district is taking additional precautions ahead of Friday’s football game.

Cornman confirmed that more law enforcement officers than usual will be present, including school resource officers, as the investigation continues.

“We are actually going to have more law enforcement presence at our football game, more so than we usually do, including our SROs,” Cornman said. “We’re trying to exercise that caution, trying to let our community know that we are taking this seriously.”

The superintendent said the district already takes steps to keep weapons and other prohibited items out of its facilities, including the use of weapons detection systems. However, he acknowledged that an incident involving a projectile entering school property from an unknown location presents a different challenge.

“This is one you really can’t plan for,” Cornman said.

While he hopes the incident was an isolated accident, Cornman said the district will continue working with police until investigators determine what happened.

“We’re not going to tolerate any harm to our staff or our students,” Cornman said.

He also urged whoever fired the crossbow to come forward and assist investigators.

“I just hope that individual comes forward so we can get resolution to this matter,” Cornman said.

The Poplar Bluff Police Department is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Elless at 573-686-8673 or the department at 573-785-5776.

The investigation remains ongoing.