A Martin Luther King Day celebration attended by more than 1,000 people, ended in the deaths of eight people, according to the police in Fort Pierce, Florida.
The celebration and shooting took place at Ilous Ellis Park near Avenue M and 13th Street at 5:20 pm during the Martin Luther King Car Show and Family Fun Day.
Nikkitia Bryant, 29, was shot and killed in the shooting that broke out allegedly between rival gangs. Bryant’s nine-year-old daughter was a witness to her mother’s shooting in what was supposed to be a fun day in the park after the holiday parade.
Chief Deputy Brian Hester of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said that the wounded were all adults and were sent to hospitals for treatment, including Bryant, who succumbed to her wounds after surgery the following day.
As visitors to the event fled for safety, at least 11 more people were injured. A young person was hurt in the ruckus as people ran to leave the park.
The gunfire started at about 5:20 pm in the evening as the community congregated in the park to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday with an afternoon car show, dancing performances, a live DJ, and children’s activities.
A witness recorded the event on a cell phone, showing guests dancing by their cars and listening to the music until what sounded like gunfire drowned out the music. The audience started fleeing the commotion, with some hiding behind cars or grabbing kids’ hands and rushing across the street.
Two sheriff’s deputies who were on patrol at the park rushed to help the injured, and many witnesses also provided first aid and provided transportation to the hospital. An estimated 40 Sheriff’s office personnel were investigating on Monday night, examining the crime scene, speaking with victims at the hospital, and pursuing leads.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the incident is the 30th large-scale shooting in the nation this year, as of January 17. The organization defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are shot, excluding the gunman. The US has had an average of two shooting incidents per day so far this year.
