Pitch invader fan shot with taser

An investigation has been launched after a police officer shot a teenage baseball fan with a Taser gun for running onto the pitch during a game in America.

The fan, wearing a baseball cap, red T-shirt and khaki shorts, dropped in a heap after he was blasted with the weapon during a Philadelphia Phillies game.



The 17-year-old pitch invader had hurdled a fence and was running rings around two security officers before being abruptly felled.

The wild scene, at the game against the St Louis Cardinals, was witnessed by more than 44,000 spectators.



Police spokesman Lt Frank Vanore said that internal affairs chiefs will investigate whether the firing "was proper use of the equipment".

The teams said it was the first time a Taser had been used by police to apprehend a spectator. One fan, who saw the incident, said: "Best part of last nights game. If that kid is dumb enough to run out on the field, he deserved to be tasered."