Eden Prairie High adds metal detectors after stadium shooting, plans to keep them through basketball season

Two people were shot outside the stadium on Oct. 2. Days later, police say shots were fired at a gas station about a mile from the school. Eden Prairie High School responded by putting metal detectors, bag checks and a larger police presence at Friday night's football game.

Parents raised concerns about gang activity and secure entrances at a community meeting days after the Oct. 2 shooting. At that gathering, the Eden Prairie Police Chief said officers are increasing patrols to stop park takeovers. A woman at the meeting said she was upset after the shooting, adding, "I am not shocked, but I am angry, I have triplets at Eden Prairie."

Bryan Anderson, a parent of an Eden Prairie football player, said the added measures look like a lot at first. "I think you look at metal detectors and all the security and you wonder if it's overkill, but like I said, all it takes is one time," Anderson said. David Barr, a Farmington parent, said he came to Friday's game checking whether school leaders and police were staying on top of security. "Just kind of not quite sure what the environment will be like. But you know, hopefully, they're on top of it," Barr said.

The district and Eden Prairie police both declined interview requests when asked whether security upgrades had been added since the community meeting. Police also declined to say whether any further changes had been made. Barr said he supports the measures. "As long as it keeps people safe, I'm fine with it. Don't have any concerns. I would rather not have that then the alternative," Barr said.

The district said it will keep the added security measures in place into basketball season. Terry Dekarski, an Eden Prairie resident, said patrols at the high school are what matter. "As long as they were patrolling the high school, that's the main thing, to protect our children nowadays, because they shouldn't have to see this," Dekarski said.