‘Lucky catch’ comment leads to Comeaux Park incident in Abbeville

An incident occurred on Wednesday night at Luquette Baseball Field at A.A. Comeaux Park, leading Abbeville Mayor Roslyn White to issue a statement on the City of Abbeville’s Facebook page and the Abbeville Police Department to get involved.
At an eight-year-old end-of-the-season QSA baseball game, two adults began arguing after one adult male commented, “Lucky catch.”
That comment was overheard by an adult female related to the boy who made the catch. 
“No, that’s talent,” said the female to the male. 
The two continued to argue, and then the home plate umpire heard and stopped the game and asked them to settle down, or the game will be stopped.
Afterward, the woman called someone and encouraged them to come to the game.
The game was over, and the awards were being presented on Luquette Field. Two youths and a female, driving a white truck, parked outside the field on the road. They began walking to the entrance gate and shouting threats to the parents in the park.
The female who had just arrived was told that the person who commented on a “lucky catch” was wearing a purple shirt. So, when she saw a woman wearing a purple shirt, she began yelling and threatening the lady. It was the wrong person, however.
She was also holding a tire iron and began waving it.
Witnesses said the woman never entered Luquette Field because other parents blocked the entrance.
Then, someone inside the field saw what looked like a gun being held by one of the male youths and shouted, “Got a gun!”
“Everyone took off running and began protecting their child,” said a parent. “It was the most craziest day of my life.”
The Abbeville Police officers were called to the field.
On Thursday, a handful of parents went to the police department to make statements about what occurred.
 “Our children were terrorized tonight! The picture etched in my head is everyone screaming, yelling, and praying out loud! Parents lay over their children! We hid behind the dugout, and some hid in the woods! It was a terrifying site! And what happened to the people who caused this terrorism?” wrote one parent on her Facebook page. 

Here is the statement from Mayor White on Wednesday’s incident at A.A. Comeaux Park: 
“I was notified of an incident involving an altercation between adults during a baseball game at AA Comeaux Park, which Abbeville Police Department responded to. The incident involved adults threatening each other, allegedly with a bat and a baton. The caller reported to me that there was alarm and panic in the crowd due to someone stating that one of the items was a gun or possibly shots fired. By the time it was reported to me, they had determined that this was a miscommunication by someone in the crowd. I immediately notified Chief Hardy and the recreation managers that all individuals involved in the incident were not to be allowed back on the property until further notice. Chief Hardy agreed and reported that officers were making statements and that this incident was under investigation. However, I do not have all of the details yet. I believe any adult who behaves this way in a youth baseball game should be held accountable for their inappropriate and dangerous actions. 
“I was not in the city limits when the incident happened, but upon my arrival at the park, officers and all individuals involved were off of the premises with the exception of one officer remaining to work security. 
“I understand that our community is still suffering from the recent traumatic incident at church, and tonight caused additional panic. This is understandable, given the recent event in our community. 
“I do not take this incident lightly and will not tolerate anyone who causes harm or instigates fear or hate in our community. Chief Hardy will make an additional statement once the investigation is concluded. Anyone at the fields who was an eyewitness with relevant details should call Abbeville Police Department to give a statement.”