At least one person has been killed and 28 others injured in Juneteenth shootings that have taken place across the country.
Chicago Juneteenth shooting
One person is dead and 28 injured after a shooting at a Juneteenth event in the Chicago area.
New mayor. Same result.pic.twitter.com/YiSePzpTK9
— Civil Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 18, 2023
The main shooting occurred in Chicago, Illinois, where one person was killed and about 28 injured after gunfire broke out at a quiet Juneteenth gathering in a parking lot near Honeysuckle Lane and Route 83 around 6 p.m. Saturday.
“An unknown number of suspects fired multiple shots from multiple weapons into the crowd,” police said The daily herald.
“The motive behind this incident is unclear,” added Eric Swanson, deputy chief of the sheriff’s office. “We have transported numerous victims from the crime scene. Others simply walked into hospitals in the area.
A witness told ABC 7 Chicago, “It was supposed to be some kind of Juneteenth celebration; we just started hearing firing so we fell down until they stopped. They went on and on. After that we were literally wiped out.”
The severity of the victims’ injuries is not known at this time.
“We were all just outside, and before you know it shots kept going off; everyone ran away and it was chaos,” said another witness.
President Joe Biden responded to this shooting through Karine Jean-Pierre, his press secretary.
“The President and First Lady remember the dead and injured in last night’s Illinois shooting,” she tweeted. “We reached out to provide assistance to state and local leaders in the aftermath of this tragedy at a Juneteenth community celebration.”
The President and First Lady remember the dead and wounded in last night’s Illinois shooting. We reached out to provide assistance to state and local leaders in the aftermath of this tragedy at a Juneteenth community celebration.
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) June 18, 2023
U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL) also spoke about this shooting.
“We live in a tragic reality where you can’t go to school, go to the grocery store, go to your place of worship, or celebrate holidays like July 4 or Juneteenth without fear of getting shot,” Casten said. “Change is needed – we cannot allow this to be the status quo.”
This is all you are going to see about it.
Mass shooting at Juneteenth celebration in Illinois Reuters 6/19 pic.twitter.com/jZkNmKbhVb
— Mariana (@lonestarherd) June 19, 2023
Related: Shooting at DC Juneteenth Celebration Leaves Boy Dead, Cop Injured
shooting Asheville
This wasn’t the only shooting to happen around the Juneteenth holiday so far. In Asheville, North Carolina, a 16-year-old was arrested on charges including two felony charges with a deadly weapon with intent to kill after opening fire at a Juneteenth celebration festival in Pack Square Park.
The Asheville Police Department said that “agents were responding to reports of shots fired at a downtown festival near Court Plaza around 8:51 p.m. on June 17. Patrol officers quickly arrived on the scene and found two youths who were victims of gunshot wounds. Both young people were seriously injured and transported to the hospital in Amersfoort. One has been released and the other is in critical but stable condition.”
“Agents were able to locate and arrest two suspects nearby. Detectives were able to exonerate one and identify the other as the main offender,” they continued. “Officers and forensic technicians have found a 9mm pistol and a large amount of physical evidence lying around the park.”
The city of Asheville cancels the Juneteenth festival
We regret to inform you that the second day of the Juneteenth Festival, Sunday 18th June, has been canceled due to ‘the normal shooting’ that took place tonight at the end of the festival. Individuals who need to pick up… pic.twitter.com/5KUByS8nLD— The Enlightened Whistleblower ~ Common Sense News (@TheEnli72119052) June 19, 2023
Related: Walmart cancels ‘Juneteenth’ flavored ice cream after backlash
More shootings in Juneteenth
Fox8 reported that a 15-year-old boy has been hospitalized after being shot over the weekend at a Juneteenth party in Akron, Ohio. Police have said the wound is not life-threatening.
NBC news reported that in San Diego, California, one person was killed and another possibly injured at a Juneteenth event held at a redeveloped arts, shopping and entertainment center. At 6:47 p.m., gunfire erupted at the festival, which reportedly included music and booths.
One dead on firing #Juniteenth concert in #Libertystation #SanDiego. Second person injured, suspect arrested. 📹 @1904newssd pic.twitter.com/zBBbqRYV5r
— SideoTV (@SideoTV) June 18, 2023
It remains to be seen how many more shootings will be before the Juneteenth holiday comes to an end.
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