FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) - Police in Florida stated eight individuals had been shot Monday throughout an MLK Jr. Day occasion, with one of many victims listed in crucial situation.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Workplace confirmed all of the victims within the early night capturing in Fort Pierce had been adults, WPBF-TV reported.
The capturing occurred at Ilous Ellis Park at 5:20 p.m. throughout an MLK Automotive Present and Household Enjoyable Day, which the sheriff’s workplace stated was attended by greater than 1,000 individuals, WPBF-TV reported.
“A number of individuals had been shot, it seems like from our preliminary investigation right here on scene there was a disagreement of some type between two events, and sadly, they selected to resolve that with weapons,” St. Lucie County Chief Deputy Brian Hester stated.
Police stated 4 individuals together with a baby sustained non-life-threatening accidents in the course of the ensuing confusion, the station reported.
“It was mass chaos, as you possibly can think about, when photographs rang out,” Hester stated. “There have been a thousand plus individuals right here on the occasion, and because the photographs rang out, individuals had been simply operating in all instructions.”
The sheriff’s workplace stated two deputies on the occasion responded instantly and aided victims, WPBF-TV reported.
Video obtained by the station confirmed individuals ducking, operating and hiding behind automobiles, together with a lady operating to security whereas holding a child.
“It’s actually unhappy in a celebration of somebody who represented peace and equality that a disagreement ends in a use of weapons and violence to unravel that disagreement, and that’s what’s actually unhappy to me about what occurred right here,” Hester stated. “After which so many harmless individuals who had been injured or damage and weren't a part of the disagreement as properly.”