GREENBELT, MD – A local park became the scene of a shooting on Friday, which interrupted a water gun fight among local teenagers celebrating “senior skip day.” Five teens were wounded in the incident, one gravely, according to local authorities. The suspects who fired the gunshots remain at large.
Greenbelt Police Chief Richard Bowers expressed his frustration at a news conference held later that day. A crowd of hundreds of students from Prince George’s County had reportedly gathered in Bowie, MD for a traditional senior skip day celebration, explained Greenbelt police spokesperson Ricardo Dennis.
Following intervention from Bowie and Prince George’s County police forces, about 500 students regrouped at Greenbelt’s Schrom Hills Recreation Center. The students organized informally via social media.
Greenbelt police were monitoring the event, which typically involves students engaging in water gun battles, when they heard live gunshots. The chief indicated that between eight and ten shots were fired. Authorities immediately secured the area and initiated a search for the suspected shooter.
Most of the students dispersed as police arrived at the scene. However, one severely injured teen was airlifted to a local hospital. An additional four victims were hospitalized with severe but non-life-threatening injuries, according to Ricardo Dennis.
Initial reports suggested two individuals were critically injured, but this was later revised down to one. Of the five shooting victims, two are minors and the remaining three are adults.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, as officers attempt to ascertain if the shooter was part of the original water gun fight.