Angry Neighbor Brings Rifle to Youth Baseball Game

Details
by Jason Scott
April 2017

An Ohio man was arrested Sunday after he allegedly threatened a youth baseball game with a high-powered rifle.

Eric Kovachic apparently had had enough of children near his property, and reportedly claimed kids were going through his yard and workshop prior to the incident.

Kovachic approached a ball field with the rifle, causing a panic as parents and children ran for cover.

Two men, Joey Hernandez and Brian Casto, reportedly approached Kovachic in an attempt to diffuse the situation.

“The rifle went from straight in the air to pointed straight at [Casto's] chest,” Hernandez told WTOV. “I was about 15 to 20 yards away, and I heard [Kovachic] say ‘If you don’t move, I’m going to blow you away. I’m tired of these kids running through my yard. I’m going to kill them.’ “

Hernandez said that Casto reached out to Kovachic as though he were going to shake his hand. Kovachic then pointed the gun in the air, and that's when the men made their move, wrestling the gun away from Kovachic and detaining him until police arrived.

The Stueubenville Herald-Star reports that Kovachic only ‘wanted to get his point across.’ He denied pointing his gun at any children.

Kovachic was arrested and charged with inducing panic, aggravated menacing and felonious assault. Weapons have been removed from his home, and he is reportedly being held in the Jefferson County jail.

Jason Scott is Online Managing Editor of Athletic Business.

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