At least 13 people were injured in a mass shooting during a party at a campground in Oklahoma on Sunday night, authorities said.
Details of the Incident
The shooting took place at Spring Creek Park on Arcadia Lake, about 15 miles northeast of downtown Oklahoma City, when gunfire erupted during a gathering of young people at approximately 9 p.m. local time.
Edmond Police Department spokesperson Emily Ward stated in a media briefing late Sunday that no arrests had been made. Local CBS affiliate 9News reported that the site of the shooting, located in a heavily wooded area, has slowed the search for evidence and a possible suspect.
“This is obviously a very terrifying situation and we understand the concern from the public and those involved, and we are working extremely hard to find the suspects,” Ward said. “We’re kind of all over the metro speaking with victims and witnesses.”
Victims and Response
Ten of the victims from Sunday’s violence were transported to the hospital by ambulance, while several others were able to drive themselves, Ward noted. She said those hurt were in “various conditions.” Health officials reported that 10 people were at Integris Health Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, and three were at Integris Health Edmond Hospital as of Monday morning.
A witness who identified himself as Armani Kessee told KWTV News in a video posted to Instagram that he and a friend had assisted a female victim who was shot. “She said she had got hit with a stray bullet,” he said. “It’s very sad to see someone that you know, that you love … it’s a very hard thing.”
Broader Context
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the incident in Edmond marks the 131st mass shooting in the United States so far this year. The organization defines a mass shooting as any event in which at least four victims are injured or killed, excluding the shooter.
Consistently high rates of mass shootings in the US have prompted calls from some quarters for stricter gun control measures. However, Congress has not heeded those calls over the years.
The Associated Press reported that a flyer on social media had promoted an event called “Sunday Funday” scheduled to take place at Spring Creek Park on Sunday evening. Arcadia Lake is an artificial reservoir popular with anglers, boaters, and campers.
Edmond is a suburb of Oklahoma City with approximately 100,000 residents. The city was previously the site of a deadly workplace shooting in August 1986 when postal worker Patrick Sherrill, a former Marine, shot 20 coworkers, killing 14, before taking his own life.
