5 shot in Maryland park during ‘senior skip day’ gathering: ‘It’s maddening’

Greenbelt, Maryland (WDCW) – Five teenagers were injured in a shooting during a “Senior Skip Day” festival for local high school students in Greenbelt, Maryland, police said.

Fire officials said three of the victims suffered serious injuries and two others suffered serious injuries. One person remained in critical condition as of Saturday.

All victims were between 16 and 18 years old.

Greenbelt Mayor Emmett V. Jordan acknowledged that students gathered at Shukrom Hills Park for the Skip Day event. Greenbelt Police Chief Richard Bowers estimated that about 500 to 600 students attended the rally.

Bowers said about 20 officers had been sent to control the crowd at the park before the shooting. Around 3 p.m., police heard gunshots and went to the pavilion area, where they found five injured people.

The students soon began to disperse. Police believe the shooter left the park during the disturbance.

“Honestly, it’s upsetting and there aren’t enough words to express my condolences to those who were there, their classmates, the school and our community,” Bowers said. “This doesn’t just affect a few people. This doesn’t just affect the City of Greenbelt, it affects the entire county, the entire state.”

Police were initially unaware of plans for Friday’s Senior Skip Day, but it was held without incident last year. Greenbelt City Administrator Josue Salmeron said town officials will be more vigilant in the future.

“Going forward, we intend to work diligently on scheduled activities within our community. We intend to play a greater role in tracking and reporting these incidents,” Salmeron said.

Bowers said he wants students to come forward if they have any information about the shooting.

“We know that the people involved are definitely on camera somewhere,” Bowers said. “As I said, there were about 20 police officers. So there’s a lot of body-worn camera footage.”

Neighbors who live near the park found the shooting tragic.

“I was sitting in my house and I heard a lot of gunshots and then I heard a lot of sirens,” said Mike Kabia, who lives across the street. “It’s sad. I had to come out here and just start praying.”

He believes more local activities are needed for children to have a safe and quality time together.

“Senior skip day, they came here and this is the result and it’s sad,” he said. “We have to go back to the village of people that we need to raise our children. We have to go back to youth programs. It’s sad that young people have nothing to do.”

“We don’t know what causes it anymore. That’s the scary part,” Michael McCallum said of the latest round of gun violence.

McCallum also believes parents need to have serious conversations with their teens.

“It may be better for parents to just teach their children to stay away from such things.” [guns]. Look at what is happening with the children over time. A friend from school has been murdered, and I am increasingly going to the funeral with my friends. You want to stop this,” he said.