William Penn student killed in shooting
A William Penn Senior High School student was the victim in a fatal shooting in the city Tuesday night.
The York County coroner’s office confirmed early Wednesday morning that Eugene Hillian IV, of the 400 block of Girard Avenue, York, was killed around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Football coach Russ Stoner confirmed that Hillian was a senior wide receiver/defensive back, who came out for the football team a week before the season started. Stoner said the 18-year-old played predominantly on the junior varsity team.
"He was a good kid who worked hard," Stoner said.
City police responded to the shooting at about 8:15 p.m. near the intersection of George and Maple streets. Officers from the York city, West Manchester and West York departments responded, both to investigate and to exercise crowd control.
York County Coroner Pam Gay said her office was called to the area about an hour later. An autopsy has been scheduled for 8 a.m. Thursday at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown.
"Although a large crowd was present at the scene no witnesses have come forward and we encourage anyone who has any information relating to this incident to call the York City Police Department at 717-846-1234 or text tips to 847-411," police said in a news release. Texting is the best method, and it is anonymous, the release states.
The shooting took place within a block of a fatal shooting in June that took the life of 27-year-old Davonne Swan of Manchester.
Stoner, in his first year as head coach at William Penn, said players on the team "are numb to the violence in York city."
"I don't even know what to say," Stoner said Tuesday night.
"It didn't have to happen. It didn't have to happen," he later added. "I just don't get it."
Stoner said he and his fellow Bearcats "support the family."
VIEW: Locations of shootings in York for 2016.
William Penn athletic director Ron Coursey said Hillian was the victim in the shooting but didn’t know the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“No one in the district really knows the backstory,” Coursey said. “It’s a bitter pill to swallow.”
Coursey, who’s in his first year as Bearcats’ athletic director, said he had “very positive interactions” with Hillian.
Coursey told a story about how the senior recently called him prior to a Bearcats football game. Hillian didn’t attend school that particular day, but asked Coursey for a blue and orange tie -- Bearcat colors -- so he could be in line with the team’s dress code on football game day.
“That spoke volumes to me,” Coursey said. “He didn’t have to make that call. Honestly, if he didn’t I wouldn’t have known that he wasn’t dressed like the rest of the team. But he wanted to be a part of it.”
The school district released a statement Wednesday:
"The School District of the City of York is mourning the tragic death of Eugene Hillian, a William Penn Senior High School student and member of the Bearcat football team. We extend our deepest condolences to Eugene’s family, friends, teachers and everyone who loved him.
"The district has made counselors available to any students and staff who need help coping with this tragedy."
This is the second time this season that violence has surrounded the Bearcats football program. On Friday, Sept. 10, two men were shot outside the William Penn vs. J.P. McCaskey game at Small Athletic Field in York. The team has since moved its games to noon on Saturdays.
Staff writer Teresa Boeckel contributed to this story.