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| Photo Credit: AP. |
West Mifflin, Pa. (AP) — Three people, including two teenagers, were wounded by gunfire late Saturday at an amusement park southeast of Pittsburgh, which was kicking off a Halloween-themed festival.
Allegheny
County police said a 39-year-old man and two 15-year-old boys sustained leg
wounds in the gunfire shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday at Kennywood Park in West
Mifflin. Park security responded along with local and county police who were
working a security detail at the park.
Emergency
responders took the man and one of the youths to a hospital, where the man was
treated for a gunshot wound to the leg and released. The youth was admitted
with a gunshot wound to the leg, and another youth grazed on the leg was
brought to the hospital by a relative; both teens were listed in stable condition.
Witnesses
told investigators that two groups of teenagers were involved in an altercation
in front of the Musik Express ride and shots were fired by a male wearing a
black hooded sweatshirt and a dark colored COVID mask. A handgun was found near
the scene, police said.
Kennywood
posted a statement on Twitter around 12:30 a.m. Sunday saying the park had been
closed for the night and all guests had exited. The company said it was
“closely collaborating with police as they investigate.”
“We are greatly saddened by the violence that
occurred last night,” Kennywood said in a statement Sunday afternoon. “Our
thoughts are with those who were injured as a result of the incident, as well
as all guests and team members affected by what happened.”
Kennywood
said park entry security protocols include “a state of the art weapons
detection system” as well as video scanning and bag checks, as well as the
presence of county and local police. The park’s website also says “weaponry of
any kind is strictly prohibited at the park.”
Police are
investigating using the park’s security cameras and witness statements, KDKA-TV
reported. County police asked anyone with information or video to contact
investigators. The Pittsburgh Public Safety Department said in a social media
post that its officers were assisting.
Kennywood
was celebrating the first night of its Phantom Fall Fest, scheduled to run
through Oct. 16, according to the park’s website. The park will be closed
Sunday, with tickets dated for that day good for any other day of the Phantom
Fall Fest, and is to reopen Friday, the park said on its website.
The website
bills the park as a family fun destination featuring seven roller coasters and
rides for children.
Ward
Troetschel, of West Mifflin, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he arrived
at about 9:45 p.m. Saturday and saw “way too many unaccompanied minors.” He
said he left at about 10:30 p.m. because young people were being aggressive and
“trying to start fights.” As he left, groups of at least 100 ran past him two
or three times, Troetschel said, calling it a scene with “lots of chaos.”
Thomas
Harrison of Irwin told the Tribune-Review that he was with his fiancé and
parents when the shots were fired, and then people were screaming, running and
pushing each other over to get out of the park.
“Kids were
crying,” Harrison said. “Some people were looking for their loved ones.”