Two people were killed and 28 others left injured, including four children, in a mass shooting in the US city of Baltimore, Maryland on Sunday.
An 18-year-old woman and 20-year-old man were killed and three victims were still in critical condition Sunday morning, according to police in the city.
At least four victims were treated in the University of Maryland Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department, the hospital said, without providing details on their ages.
The suspect or suspects remained at large on Sunday.
“I want those who are responsible to hear me, and hear me very clearly," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott told reporters at the scene.
“We will not stop until we find you, and we will find you. Until then, I hope that every single breath you take, that you think about the lives that you took, think about the lives that you impacted here tonight."
The tragedy occurred at the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend, when Americans typically gather for parades, barbecues and fireworks.
BPD is on scene of a masa shooting incident in the 800 blk of Gretna Court in our Southern District. Acting Commissioner Worley and PIO are on scene. Media Staging Area will be located at the intersection of 6th Street and Audrey Avenue. pic.twitter.com/2JK5F09WMB
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) July 2, 2023
It began shortly after midnight at the ‘Brooklyn Day’ block party in the Brooklyn Homes neighbourhood of Baltimore, which hundreds of people attended, local media reported.
A witness told TV station Fox 45 that they had heard 20 to 30 shots fired.
Nine people were transported from the scene to local hospitals, while 20 others affected walked into hospitals in the area, police said.
Pictures showed folding tables and plastic cups scattered around the scene, apparently left behind when people ran from the gunshots.
A witness, Lakell Nelson told the Associated Press there had been several false alarms of people mistaking the sounds of fireworks for gunfire earlier in the night while she was at the block party.
However, by the time she was getting to her car, the actual shooting began. “The shots were just going on and on and on," she said.
