Maryland Shooting Incident: 5 Teenagers Injured at Park During Senior Skip Day Event

Authorities are seeking at least one individual responsible for shooting five teenagers, one of whom sustained critical injuries, during a water gun fight held on Friday as part of the "senior skip day" festivities at a Greenbelt, Maryland park, according to officials.

Teens Injured at Park During Senior Skip Day Event

Expressing frustration, Greenbelt Police Chief Richard Bowers stated during a later news briefing on Friday evening, "These were kids on senior skip day who were looking to have a good time at a local park. And to have something like this occur, is just - it's maddening, honestly."

Initially gathering in Bowie, Maryland, hundreds of teenagers who had skipped school in Prince George's County for the tradition were dispersed by both Bowie and Prince George's County police, said Greenbelt police spokesperson Ricardo Dennis.

Following this dispersal, approximately 500 students eventually congregated at the Schrom Hills Recreation Center in Greenbelt, Dennis revealed, noting that the meetup was informally organized on social media.

Describing the event, Chief Bowers explained that students typically leave school to converge at the park armed with super soakers and water guns to engage in friendly water battles, noting that a similar water gun fight took place last year without incident.

Due to the high density of teenagers in the relatively small park, officers requested backup, Bowers mentioned. While monitoring the water gun fight, officers heard live gunfire originating from "someone who brought a real gun," Bowers disclosed, stating that approximately eight to ten shots were fired.

The area was swiftly secured as officers searched for the suspect.

Following the incident, most of the teenagers left the park, Dennis stated, with one critically injured victim airlifted to a nearby hospital and four others hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Ongoing Investigation on Maryland Shooting Incident

Initially, authorities reported two victims in critical condition, later revising the count to one during the evening news conference. Of the shooting victims, two were minors and three were over 18 years old, according to police.

Investigators are currently determining whether the suspect fled the park alongside other teenagers and are probing whether the firearm was discharged by a participant in the water gun fight.

Chief Bowers condemned the incident as a "horrible, tragic, senseless act," emphasizing the need for societal action to prevent such occurrences.

Five wounded individuals, aged between 16 and 18, were found at the scene, given medical care and the area was secured, Bowers noted. All five injured individuals were transported to hospitals.

"These were kids on senior skip day who were looking to have a good time at a local park, and to have something like this occur, is just, it is maddening," the police chief expressed.

An ongoing investigation into the incident is underway, and police are urging the public to come forward with any information that could help identify a suspect.