US 250th anniversary celebrations marred by violence; shooting incidents reported in various cities | Today’s news
As Americans across the country marked the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence on July 4, the celebrations were marred by shooting incidents that left at least six dead and dozens injured in many cities.
Dozens of people injured in several shooting incidents across the US
New York: On July 5, NBC News reported several incidents around the country that slowed down the celebrations. In the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, a masked man opened fire on a family’s barbecue on the night of July 4, leaving at least eight people injured, including four children. Seven of the injured are expected to survive, while a 21-year-old woman remains in critical condition after being shot in the chest, according to the NYPD. The shooter, who is largely at large, fled on foot and authorities were working to identify and arrest him.
Florida: In Florida, a 19-year-old girl was killed and six others were injured after gunfire erupted in downtown Pensacola just after 1 a.m. on July 5. Eric Winstrom, Pensacola’s police chief, said at a press conference that the incident appeared to be targeted and that no arrests had yet been made. He added that many young people, including some of high school age, were out and unaccompanied that evening. Winstrom said, “The youngest victim in this case was 16. The age range was 16 to 26 of the seven victims — very young, innocent children.”
Indiana: Three separate shootings were reported from Indiana. The first incident occurred in Fort Wayne after 3 a.m. on July 5, where one woman was found dead while eight others were treated for non-life threatening gunshot wounds. Two incidents were reported from Gary, where a 10-year-old boy was killed in one of these shootings. The first shooting occurred at 12:34 a.m. on July 5 in the area of 19th Avenue and Hanley Street, where six people were taken to the hospital.
A second shooting happened minutes later and police were dispatched to the 200 block of Chase Street after another shot was heard. A 10-year-old boy and a 50-year-old man drove themselves to the hospital with gunshot wounds. While the boy was later pronounced dead, the 50-year-old remains in a critical condition.
California: In Compton, Calif., a man and a woman were killed and three others were injured at a Fourth of July party at an apartment complex in the 700 block of West Laurel Street on July 4 around 11:30 p.m. While both victims were pronounced dead at the scene, the three injured, including a man, a woman and a girl, were taken to hospitals. While the woman and the girl were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the injured man was in critical condition.
Missouri: In St. Louis, a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed in the 2100 block of Linton Avenue around noon on July 4, while two other victims, both 16-year-old boys, were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds.
Authorities in the affected states have launched investigations as they work to identify and apprehend those responsible for the shooting.
