College baseball player shot in chest by stray bullet during game in Texas, police say

One man turned himself in and another suspected shooter is at large after a college baseball player was shot in the chest during a Saturday afternoon game in Texas.

The player was hit by what police believe was a stray bullet midway through the game at George Dobson Field at Spring Lake Park in Texarkana, a city of about 36,000 along the Texas-Arkansas border.

The victim is an 18-year-old Texas A&M – Texarkana player who was standing in the bullpen area during the game against the University of Houston-Victoria when he was hit by a bullet, according to a statement released by the department. A preliminary investigation found the victim was reportedly struck by a stray bullet from an altercation in a nearby neighborhood.

Officials ended the baseball game after the shooting and the victim was taken to a local hospital where he was set to undergo surgery Saturday evening. Police did not identify the victim.

On Sunday, police said, the victim was in stable condition at the hospital.

Two warrants and three other arrests

Police issued a felony warrant for a 17-year-old male for aggravated assault and 20-year-old Demarco Banks for deadly conduct. According to police, detectives believe both men are the shooters.

Police said in a Monday morning update that Banks turned himself in, while authorities were still searching for the 17-year-old.

USA TODAY is not naming the teen because he is a minor.

Police received calls about shooting near field

According to a preliminary investigation by detectives, police initially received several calls of shots fired in a neighborhood just west of Spring Lake Park. Moments later, police reported, dispatchers received a 911 call that a baseball player at the park had collapsed and may have been shot.

Police said they were able to almost immediately determine the two incidents were related, so as some officers rendered aid to the victim, other officers scoured nearby streets for evidence or witnesses.

There, officers located several spent shell casings in the front yard of a home.

Detectives determined the incident started as a disturbance at the home that led to two men shooting at each other in front of the house. One of those errant rounds travelled about 400 yards and struck the innocent victim at the ballpark.

The 17-year-old and Banks fled the area before officers got there, but police said they arrested three other men at the home after detectives obtained a search warrant for the house and several vehicles at the scene. Included in the arrests were Yankeengea Smith, 49, for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and Nathan Moore, 19, for tampering with evidence and another 19-year-old on drug charges.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.