WORCESTER – Early on Sunday police closed down the Worcester Caribbean American Carnival after two innocent spectators were shot near Institute Park.
Police informed, gunfire was exchanged among two men at around 6pm on Boynton Street, at the junction on Salisbury Street. The shooting created a chaotic situation in and around the festival, with the crowd running for cover.
The police further stated, Officers assigned to the festival identified two injured victims from the shooting, The two individuals aged 15 and 23, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Both injured victims appear to have not been tangled in the dispute and had not been deliberately targeted, according to police.
Just outside Institute Park, where the gathering was taking place, shortly before 6.30 pm, a blood stained black and white Nike sneaker could be seen next to a pool of blood cordoned by police tape at the turn of Salisbury and Boynton Street.
President and founder of Worcester Caribbean American Carnival Association Jennifer Gaskin had made the abrupt announcement that the carnival had come to an end and the park had to be immediately closed, clearing out partygoers and vendors from the field.
Many of the celebrators ended up on Salisbury Street where a dozen police officers searched the area of the park near the crime scene.
Gaskin informed that she was saddened by the information that two individuals had been injured in the shooting, and that she had to forcefully stop the celebrations and evacuate the area, which had been programmed to continue till 7 pm.
Gaskin said that this event was done every year for the public, and the gathering is to celebrate and connect to build the community. For an individual to do such an act is so disheartening. Gaskin was prominently distressed that one of the victims was just a young teenager. She stated that she was informed that there was a disagreement that initiated on Boynton Street, an individual ran from the argument as shots were fired.
It is time that the city admits that there is a serious issue cropping up with young individuals and guns, and the problem requires immediate attention, Gaskin said.
The Worcester shooting occurred a day after a shooting at a Boston Caribbean Carnival that injured eight people.
Investigations are still ongoing with no arrests been made.
