Shooting at Crowded Pasco Park Possibly Gang-Related
PASCO— Pasco investigators have not said whether a shooting at Chiawana Park Sunday evening was gang-related, but witnesses say gangs are to blame.
Lots of families were at the park when the shooting happened, as well as a big church group with 50 to 60 people.
We got word of the shooting from Action News Reporter Holly Zuluaga who happened to be jogging in the area-- and heard gunshots-- even though she was wearing headphones.
Lots of other people not only heard it, they saw it and ran for cover or for their kids. One of those people was Jarrod Bowles.
"Everybody was running, saying gun, gun, gun! There were four guys, four guys who started running this way and then one actually ended up being shot. He was hiding behind that. And the cop was right there sort of in the center of the field. He saw the guys coming this way, so he cut them off right here,” said Bowles.
When Action News arrived on the scene with a camera, there were still lots of families still at the park, as police handcuffed and interviewed suspects and witnesses.
"And then actually one of the ladies from our church, her and her daughter came out and there's like four guys over there and then the cop on this side and she's just sort of stuck in the bathroom. It was just sort of pretty crazy,” said Bowles.
Several officers also had what appeared to be automatic rifles, checking for other gunmen and making sure no suspects had run into the surrounding neighborhoods.
Several witnesses say a Pasco Police officer who happened to be at the park was crucial to catching the gunmen, and getting help fast.
The officer was not allowed to talk to us on camera by his department, but other witnesses like John Rea told us what he did to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. One man was reportedly shot in the leg, but is expected to survive.
"He turns around and there's this guy with a gun running up towards the yellow truck. He's sort of limping as if he's shot in the leg. And the police officer goes and grabs his gun."
At the park, Action News ran into Pasco police officers and Public Information Officer Captain John Raymond. We also saw Franklin County Sheriff's deputies and Franklin County Prosecutor Steve Lowe.
Members of the large church group say they ran for the lower ground of the shore. One teenager with the church told me he counted his brothers and sisters to make sure everyone was safe.
Witnesses at the scene told Action News they saw when at least two men tried to ditch their guns into a dumpster and on a parked car.
Lots of families were at the park when the shooting happened, as well as a big church group with 50 to 60 people.
We got word of the shooting from Action News Reporter Holly Zuluaga who happened to be jogging in the area-- and heard gunshots-- even though she was wearing headphones.
Lots of other people not only heard it, they saw it and ran for cover or for their kids. One of those people was Jarrod Bowles.
"Everybody was running, saying gun, gun, gun! There were four guys, four guys who started running this way and then one actually ended up being shot. He was hiding behind that. And the cop was right there sort of in the center of the field. He saw the guys coming this way, so he cut them off right here,” said Bowles.
When Action News arrived on the scene with a camera, there were still lots of families still at the park, as police handcuffed and interviewed suspects and witnesses.
"And then actually one of the ladies from our church, her and her daughter came out and there's like four guys over there and then the cop on this side and she's just sort of stuck in the bathroom. It was just sort of pretty crazy,” said Bowles.
Several officers also had what appeared to be automatic rifles, checking for other gunmen and making sure no suspects had run into the surrounding neighborhoods.
Several witnesses say a Pasco Police officer who happened to be at the park was crucial to catching the gunmen, and getting help fast.
The officer was not allowed to talk to us on camera by his department, but other witnesses like John Rea told us what he did to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. One man was reportedly shot in the leg, but is expected to survive.
"He turns around and there's this guy with a gun running up towards the yellow truck. He's sort of limping as if he's shot in the leg. And the police officer goes and grabs his gun."
At the park, Action News ran into Pasco police officers and Public Information Officer Captain John Raymond. We also saw Franklin County Sheriff's deputies and Franklin County Prosecutor Steve Lowe.
Members of the large church group say they ran for the lower ground of the shore. One teenager with the church told me he counted his brothers and sisters to make sure everyone was safe.
Witnesses at the scene told Action News they saw when at least two men tried to ditch their guns into a dumpster and on a parked car.
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