WASHINGTON: A shooting in Washington, D.C., on the Fourth of July left nine people injured, including two juveniles, as violence continues to cast a shadow over the holiday celebrations. The incident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. on Meade Street in the northeastern quadrant of the United States (US) capital, according to Assistant Chief Leslie Parsons of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Upon receiving a report of a shooting, officers arrived at the scene to find multiple victims, including a 9-year-old and a 17-year-old. The victims were outside enjoying the holiday when a dark-colored SUV drove through the neighborhood, stopped, and opened fire, targeting the individuals, stated Assistant Chief Parsons. The shooting appeared to be deliberate.
Emergency services, including D.C. Fire and EMS, transported several victims to local hospitals, while others made their own way for treatment. Assistant Chief Parsons confirmed that all the victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries. However, their identities have not been disclosed at this time. It remains unclear whether there were multiple shooters in the vehicle, and no arrests have been made thus far.
Series of Mass Shootings in Washington D.C.
The shooting in D.C. adds to a series of mass shootings that occurred over the violent holiday weekend. In Baltimore, a block party shooting early Sunday left 28 people injured, with two fatalities. Several of the injured were under the age of 18. Additionally, on Monday night in Philadelphia, a gunman wearing a bulletproof vest opened fire, killing five people and injuring two boys aged 2 and 13, before surrendering to police.
In another tragic incident, three people were killed and eight others injured when multiple men fired into a crowd of hundreds in a Texas neighborhood following a local festival. The shooting occurred late Monday night in the Fort Worth neighborhood of Como, approximately two hours after the conclusion of the annual ComoFest.
Authorities are actively investigating these incidents and working to ensure the safety of the affected communities. The recent wave of violence highlights the urgent need to address gun violence and strengthen efforts to promote community safety.
