Two people were killed and several others injured in a shooting during a Juneteenth celebration in Texas on Saturday night, authorities said.
Gunfire erupted after a fight broke out between two groups at the event in Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, about 20 miles north of Austin, at around 10:50 p.m., Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks told reporters during a briefing early on Sunday.
Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free, Black Americans have celebrated the day with joy for generations, with parades, festivals and cookouts. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill passed by Congress that made Juneteenth, or June 19, a federal holiday.
At the Texas event, Multiple people were struck by gunfire and two people died at the scene and several others were transported to area hospitals, the chief said.
The victims were not part of the initial altercation, he said. Those who were directly involved in the incident fled the scene, Banks said, and police have no suspects in custody.
It was not immediately known how many shooters there had been. The investigation is ongoing, Banks said.
Police officers immediately responded and rendered medical aid to the shooting victims, Banks said, according to a news release posted on Facebook .
🚨#BREAKING: Numerous people have been shot and injured with fatalities in a mass shooting during at a Juneteenth festival⁰📌#Roundrock | #Texas ⁰Currently numerous Law enforcement along with emergency personnel are on the scene in old settlers park located in round rock… pic.twitter.com/P0Vb6WNIoN
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts)
Austin-Travis County EMS wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that it also responded to “a mutual aid request for a reported shooting involving multiple patients.”
Medics transported four adults and two children to local hospitals “with potentially serious injuries,” the department said.
“I’d like to thank the police officers and the fire department for their quick actions,” Banks said. “I have no doubt that their quick actions in rendering aid to the victims saved lives.”
He added: “It is unfortunate that we were here celebrating a wonderful event and we have a tragedy that happens. My thoughts and my prayers go out to the victims. My condolences go out to the families of the deceased.”
Newsweek has contacted the Round Rock Police Department for further comment via social media.
Stock photo of police cars. Two people have been killed in a shooting during a Juneteenth festival in Round Rock, Texas.
iStock
The Juneteenth festival, with a free concert, was taking place in Old Settlers Park from 5 p.m. on Saturday until midnight, according to the Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department’s page on Facebook.
Anyone with video or information about Saturday night’s incident is urged to contact the Round Rock Police Department at (512) 218-5500.
Update 6/16/24, 6 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information. The article’s headline has been updated to include that two people were killed.
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