Davis, California – Three people were injured Saturday afternoon after reports of gunfire erupting at a popular festival in Davis, according to police, resulting in a rush to safety.
Hundreds of people have reportedly enjoyed traditional spring gatherings near a sprawling recreational area north of the UC Davis campus.
Neighbors living near the park said they heard a series of loud noises, whether it was firecrackers or gunshots, swiftly in a row – not long after, shortly after 2:40 pm, seeing about 500 to 600 people flowing through the park, many looking frustrated.
On police and fire stations, incident responders described the incident as a “stampage.”
The park crowds spilled during the annual picnic day event held by UC Davis. The tradition of the campus revolves around a house that is open to prospective students and their parents.
City police called the incident a “reported shooting” but would not provide additional details. Emergency responders are on the air, treating three patients on the community minor league baseball field, according to Scanner traffic on Broadcastify.com. According to the radio traffic report, a 15-year-old boy had a gunshot wound.
This year’s picnic day, free celebrations, including parades, band battles, fashion shows and other events, on otherwise perfect days, mild temperatures and deep blue skies.
According to its website, the city has established a “safety-enhanced zone” in the area, which has been in the area since 2011. It is credited to the picnic day, by helping to reduce the threat of “bad behavior”.
Participants described the consequences as confusion. A police helicopter hovered, and the speakers gave orders to those in the area: “Schools are closed. Parks are closed. Find your way home. Please. Please. It’s time to leave. Leave. Leave.”
A 17-year-old man said a friend was injured. The name only says that her friend was grazed by bullets and left in an ambulance.
A young man – who didn’t want to name a name – said he was detained for about half an hour because police said he matched the so-called shooter’s description.
He said that after half an hour, they apologized and released him.
Police sent a telephone alert asking the public to avoid investigations in the area. No further information was provided immediately.
