DUMAS, Ark. (AP) – A man was killed and 27 people were injured when two people were involved in a gun battle during a car show that is part of an annual community event in a small southeastern Arkansas town, authorities said Sunday.
A person who left the scene of Saturday night shooting has been arrested on unrelated charges and is being questioned about the shooting in Dumas, a town of about 4,000 about 90 miles (144 kilometers) southeast of Little Rock, Arkansas State Police Col. Bill Bryant said.
“All we know at this time is there were two individuals who got into a gunfight,” Bryant said at a Sunday afternoon press conference.
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He said several children were among the injured, including two under the age of two.
The car show is part of a community event called Hood-Nic every spring, which is short for neighborhood picnic. The Hood-Nic Foundation states on its website that its mission is to “build, reunite and respond to the needs of young people in our communities.”
The event, which helps raise funds for scholarships and school supplies, also includes a celebration, a basketball tournament, musical performances, a teenage party and a balloon release.
“Hood-Nic’s goal has always been to bring the community together,” the foundation said on its Facebook page.
“This senseless violence must stop.”
“It’s always been a family-friendly event with a message of non-violence,” said Kris Love-Keys, the foundation’s chief development officer.
Cameron Shaffer, 23, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, was killed in the shooting, Bryant said. He said authorities had no indication he was involved in the gun battle.
Earlier in the day, Governor Asa Hutchinson said on Twitter that one of the two suspects had been arrested and was being held on unrelated charges. But state police would later only say that the person arrested was questioned.
“As the investigation continues, I will review details to see if there are steps that can be taken to prevent this type of tragedy,” Hutchinson said.
Six people under the age of 18 who were injured by gunshot wounds were taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, a spokeswoman said. Most were released on Sunday afternoon.
Wallace McGehee, the organizer of the car show, told KARK that when the bullets started flying, he started “running, ducking, going down, trying to get kids out of the way.”
Candace McKinzie, who helped organize the event, told the New York Times that the shots appeared to come from nowhere.
“You were laughing and talking and eating and everything went on random fire,” she said.
McKinzie said people started running and crashing into each other and elderly people falling.
Those shot include McKinzie’s cousin and sister. She said the two are expected to recover.
Chris Jones, a Democrat running for governor of Arkansas, tweeted that he was at the event earlier Saturday, registering voters and enjoying “a positive family atmosphere.”
“I am deeply saddened (and frankly angry) by this tragedy,” Jones said in a statement.
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