GREENBELT, MD (3-minute read) – A festive senior skip day at Schrom Hills Park turned tragic on Friday, as a water gun fight among high school students escalated into a shooting, leaving five teenagers wounded.
According to Greenbelt Police Chief Richard Bowers, the event attracted between 500 and 600 attendees before chaos ensued. Maryland State Police were called to aid with crowd control and traffic management as the situation intensified. “Just before 3:00 p.m., our officers heard between eight to ten gunshots,” Chief Bowers explained. This incident led to the discovery of five teens, aged 16 to 18, suffering from gunshot wounds in the aftermath.
🚨😱 Multiple teens shot at Schrom Hills Park in Greenbelt, Maryland, during a senior skip day gathering of 500-600 teens initially for a water gun fight.
— World News Global (@WorldNewsGb) April 20, 2024
Five teens injured, some critically, with emergency personnel on the scene.#Maryland #Greenbelt pic.twitter.com/t3OZvXqHN7
Authorities believe the suspect fled the scene amid the pandemonium, prompting a full-scale investigation as the injured were rushed to local hospitals. One of the teenagers remains in critical condition, while the others have been stabilized.
The event, widely promoted on social media, has prompted police to seek assistance from anyone with information.
“This is a horrible, tragic, senseless act that occurred today,” Bowers said. “There is absolutely no justification for this incident. To have something like this happen is madness… This involved high school students. It was unnecessary and unacceptable. We must unite to prevent such occurrences in the future.”
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