People fled in panic after a teenager was shot in a crowded area at the WEBN fireworks riverfront display on September 4 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Adding to the chaos and confusion, a short time later, there was another double shooting in downtown Cincinnati.
One man expressed upset on Twitter about a shooting occurring at a crowded, family event and said it might end a family tradition of attending the fireworks. He said he had to dive on top of his children after someone started shooting.
The shooting occurred around 9:40 p.m. near Broadway and Mehring Way in downtown Cincinnati, near the U.S. Bank Arena as revelers finished up watching a fireworks display that has been a major community event for 40 years. Fox 19 says police are seeking two teenage suspects in the shooting.
WLWT reported that a 17-year-old boy was shot in an area packed with people and taken to the hospital, where he was expected to survive. The boy was shot in the shoulder, said The Dayton Daily News.
Then, at 10:50 p.m., two more people were shot downtown near the Cincinnati library at Baldwin and West 9th street, but police don’t think the shootings are connected, said WLWT, adding that those people also suffered non life-threatening injuries. WCPO said one victim in the later shooting was shot in the ankle and one in the back from a gunman who fired across the street.
The Cincinnati News said there were two victims and both suffered minor injuries.
The Associated Press said no arrests had been made in the fireworks shooting, and the motive was not clear. A witness described what happened:
Some said they were frightened that they were caught up in a shooting while enjoying fireworks.
Some used expletives on social media against the shooter or expressed concern about friends or just general shock or upset.
Eyewitness video from the scene showed crowds of people fleeing in panic and captured law enforcement responding to the scene.
The Western & Southern/WEBN firework display brings an estimated 250,000 to both sides of the river to watch the fireworks and celebrate a Riverfest and other all-day activities, says Cincinnati.com. The shooting didn’t stop people from enjoying the fireworks, though; it came at the end of the show.
The shooting upset people who had gone to the display for the fireworks and didn’t expect to be caught up in a shooting scene.
WLWT released a suspect description on Twitter:
People were upset that someone would bring gunfire to an event attended by so many.