WASHINGTON – Police here reported that four people were shot in a hail of bullets in northwest Washington, D.C. on Saturday, just blocks from where the Caribbean carnival was taking place.
Police said at least three of the victims were innocent bystanders – possibly caught in the middle of a battle between neighborhood crews. The fourth victim, who ran from the scene, was being interviewed.
Witnesses described a scene of pure chaos, with people running for cover and trying to find family members as an unidentified gunman unloaded more than 20 shots in the intersection of Gresham Place and Georgia Avenue.
Edith Ramberan, who was enjoying the Caribbean carnival, said she first thought it was firecrackers, but later discovered it was actually automatic gunfire.
“People started stampeding. I turned down a side street to get away,” Ramberan told reporters.
Police officers on duty for the Caribbean carnival said they got to the scene quickly and found three shooting victims at Gresham Place and Georgia Avenue, and a fourth at Georgia Avenue and Columbia.
“We believe three of the four were innocent bystanders,” Assistant Police Chief Diane Groomes said.
Groomes said three of the victims were in stable condition, but the fourth was in extremely critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head.
“We have a lot of people who are cooperating and telling us what they saw,” she said. “Unfortunately, this is a hot area for crew disputes.”
Groomes said the parade route was actually shortened to keep visitors out of the trouble spots.
She said police were yet to make any arrests as they continue to investigate the shootings. (CMC)