Gunfire interrupts youth baseball game in South Carolina

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC/Grey Information) – A mum or dad’s video reveals youngsters ducking for canopy Monday evening as gunfire erupted throughout a youth baseball sport in North Charleston.

North Charleston Police say they’re actively investigating the taking pictures. Police spokesman Harve Jacobs stated police responded to Pepperhill Park within the 7600 block of Brandywine Street the place gunshots had been reported.

WARNING: This video might comprise disturbing content material.

“Witnesses indicated that a number of autos pulled into the parking zone, the place a bodily altercation passed off, adopted by dozens of gunshots,” Jacobs stated. “A number of youth baseball video games have been underway when this incident occurred. This incident tonight had nothing to do with the Park, youth athletes, dad and mom or coaches. Fortunately no accidents have been reported.”

Blake Ferguson was recording the sport as his son was on the pitching mound at Pepperhill Ball Discipline at roughly 8:45 p.m, WCSC stories. His video captured the sound of a number of photographs, sending youngsters and officers operating for canopy. He stated he heard between 50 to 75 photographs and believes the gunfire occurred within the parking zone.

Lori Ferguson stated she heard the booms and initially thought somebody was setting off fireworks.

“After which unexpectedly, increase, increase, and ‘Get down, everyone, get down!’ And also you’re at a park. My youngsters usually are not with me straight and also you simply see everyone scattering,” she stated. “And my son’s on the pitcher mound by himself and it was simply probably the most traumatic factor as a mom, as a citizen of this metropolis, that you simply simply really feel helpless. I felt fully helpless.”

After the taking pictures ended, Blake Ferguson stated a number of dad and mom’ autos had been struck by gunfire.

North Charleston Police promised to research the incident “to the fullest extent of the legislation and can do every part of their energy to find and arrest the people concerned on this heinous and reckless act.”

“We are going to depart no stone unturned in bringing these suspects to justice,” Jacobs stated.

Assistant Chief Greg Gomes is shocked by the video and horrified on the occasions that passed off, he stated.

“He vehemently denounces this violence and is outraged at these accountable for placing so many harmless lives in peril,” Jacobs stated.

Mayor Keith Summey additionally watched the video of the youngsters on the sector throughout this incident, and was “appalled by what he heard and noticed,” Jacobs stated.

Lori Ferguson stated that police responded to the park to research the place the taking pictures occurred, however stated officers didn’t come onto the ball area to test on the households or escort them off the sector.

“However no one ever got here and checked like, ‘Hey, are these youngsters okay?’” she stated.

The incident, she stated, left her youngsters shaken, even after they have been again residence.

“Now, I perceive we might stroll down the road, one thing might occur. We might be at church, one thing can occur. One-hundred p.c perceive that,” she stated. “My youngsters requested me the place the police have been to guard them. They didn’t need to take a bathe, in our own residence, as a result of now they’re traumatized by what occurred tonight.”

Police deliberate to fulfill Tuesday morning with metropolis recreation employees to formulate a security plan “to make sure that our metropolis’s youth can really feel secure when taking part in on our parks and playgrounds,” Jacobs stated.

“We may also make preparations for the youngsters, dad and mom, coaches, and volunteers who have been affected by this occasion are supplied with the sources mandatory to help them in coping with such a traumatic incident,” Jacobs stated.

He stated the police division has spoken with the Dee Norton Youngsters’s Advocacy Heart to assist present these providers.

Video games scheduled on the area for Tuesday shall be canceled whereas these plans are finalized.

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