Shooting at Asheville Juneteenth celebration leads to cancellation

According to the Asheville Police Department, a 16-year-old suspect has been arrested on charges that include two counts of felonious assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury in a shooting that occurred at a Juneteenth celebration festival in Pack Square Park.

Police documents state that "officers responded to reports of shots fired at a downtown festival in the area of Court Plaza around 8:51 p.m. on June 17. Patrol officers quickly arrived on the scene and found two juveniles who were victims of gunshot wounds. Both juveniles were transported to Mission Hospital with serious injuries. One has been released, and the other remains in critical but stable condition."

"Officers were able to locate two suspects nearby and took them into custody. Detectives were able to clear one and identify the other as the principal offender. Officers and Forensic Technicians recovered a 9mm pistol and a host of physical evidence that littered the park," police said.

A vendor who witnessed the shooting unfold told the outlet that they saw an argument occur between two people before hearing the sound of gunshots around 8:30 pm. The witness said that they saw one person run down Spruce Street, while the other individual hid in a vendor tent.

A separate witness told the station that they witnessed crime scene tape go up near Pack's Tavern, and watched two ambulances leave the event.

The city of Ashville canceled the duration of the Juneteenth celebrations following the shooting. On Sunday, there was an event scheduled from 1-6 pm at Pack Square Park, according to the network.

The shooting in Asheville follows a weekend of violence during Juneteenth celebrations across the United States. In Willowbrook, Illinois, near Chicago, one person was killed and at least 28 were injured in a mass shooting at a Juneteenth celebration. A 15-year-old was shot in the chest at a Juneteenth parade in Akron, Ohio, and in San Diego, one person was killed and another injured in a shooting at a Juneteenth celebration.