A mass shooting at a popular Arkansas car show that left one person dead and 27 others wounded – including six children – was sparked when two men got into a shootout and sprayed the crowd with bullets, officials said.
Harrowing footage of the moment gunfire erupted at Saturday’s Delta N.E.Y.O. Hood-nic Foundation car show in Dumas shows people running for cover as the barrage of gunfire pierces through the music being played on stage.
‘The bottom line on this is individuals got into a gunfight,’ Arkansas State Police Director Col. Bill Bryant said at a press conference Sunday.
The deceased was identified as Cameron Shaffer, 23. Bryant said that was no indication that Shaffer was one of the persons involved in the confrontation that led to the shooting.
The ages of the young victims who were shot included a 19-month-old and a 23-month old, authorities said.
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Pictured: the scene at the car show right before the gunfight that left one person dead and 27 injured, including six children
The moment gunshots rang out at the car show, right before dozens of people fled for their lives
A person being taken away on a stretcher after the shooting in Dumas, Arkansas
One person was killed and 27 people were wounded at an Arkansas car show on Saturday evening, according to the Arkansas State Police
Arkansas State Police Director Col. Bill Bryant, pictured, at a press conference Sunday regarding the mass shooting
‘Y’all just shot a baby. A mf baby,’ one festivalgoer wrote on Facebook.
Candace McKinzie, 26, said she was eating a funnel cake when she heard a series of gunshots that led to a stampede of people running and tripping over one another, including ‘elderly people falling, trying to hide under tables.’
‘You went from laughing and talking and eating and everything to random firing,’ McKinzie, 26, one of the organizers of the event, told the New York Times.
The the shooting took place at around 7:30 pm in the parking lot of a supermarket called the Mad Butcher in the town of around 4,000 about 85 miles southeast from the state capital of Little Rock.
The Dumas Police Chief confirmed that multiple children were shot, but said he’s been told that they are ‘doing okay.’
Two suspects are currently being sought in connection with the shooting.
One person was taken into custody Saturday on unrelated charges, cops said.
The incident took place at a business where an annual car show for charity was happening
The ages of the young victims who were shot included a 19-month-old and a 23-month old, authorities said
EMTs waiting outside the Arkansas car show where one person was killed and 27 people were injured in a shootout on Saturday
People trying to get away from the car show in the wake of the shooting incident
The car show was put on by a local foundation that caters to underprivileged youth in the area
At least one victim had to be airlifted from the scene to a local hospital, according to KARK, with several victims being transferred to multiple hospitals in the area.
This was the 16th edition of Hood-nic, which describes itself on Facebook as: ‘Future Education for the youth. Day of celebrating the lost loved ones. Live entertainment from locals and out of state guest of all genres. Vendors of all sorts. Car, Truck, and Bike Show. Awards and much much more.’
The event’s Facebook page posted just hours after the shooting: ‘We are heartbroken and in shock at what took place during tonight’s car show. Several people were shot by an unknown suspect. The full extent of injuries has not yet been disclosed. State Patrol is currently investigating the situation. We will release more details as they come in. If you know anything, please report it to the authorities. The purpose of Hood-Nic has always been to bring the community together. This senseless violence needs to end. Sending our prayers.’
Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin tweeted: ‘Saying prayers for entire Dumas community after tonight’s senseless & tragic shooting as families with young children gathered for community event on Sat. evening. God Bless the law enforcement officers who are on the scene responding.’
People crowded a local hospital after the shooting, with several victims transferred to local medical centers
Police remained outside the scene well into the evening in a parking lot near a supermarket in Dumas
The organizer of the event, Wallace McGhee, told KARK afterwards that the event has gone on for years and years without anything like this happening.
‘We want to say this, we send our deepest condolences to the families of the tragedy that took place here today. We don’t really know what happened. We just want to send our prayers, condolences to our friends, family.
He then offered an apology for what took place at his event.
‘We apologize for all of this to happen, this had never happened with our event ever. Just for something like this to happen is a tragedy. We want everyone here to know that we did this here for 16 years without a problem. We want our community to come back, be strong. We’re praying for you and we’re going to continue to pray.’