A fight sparked a shooting at a weekend party packed with young adults at an Oklahoma park, leaving 23 people injured by gunfire and shrapnel, including one person in critical condition, police reported Tuesday. As of now, no arrests have been made in the Sunday night incident, but investigators believe there is no further danger to the public, according to Sergeant James Hamm, spokesperson for the Edmond Police Department.
Details of the Incident
The shooting occurred at a picnic pavilion near Arcadia Lake, a popular destination for boating, fishing, and swimming just north of Oklahoma City. The party was promoted on social media, attracting a large crowd, primarily young adults. Police were responding to a noise complaint about the gathering when the shooting began, Hamm said.
Multiple groups were present, and the violence erupted after a fight broke out. One victim remained in critical condition on Tuesday. Many others suffered graze wounds and were treated and released, Hamm noted. It is possible that additional individuals were hit but did not seek medical attention. Most of those shot were not involved in the altercation and were simply attending the party, he added.
Investigation and Community Response
Police have not released information about potential suspects, the number of shooters, or the types of weapons used. Hamm stated that the department aims to protect the integrity of the investigation. Edmond Mayor Mark Nash said Monday that the park allows reservations for large gatherings, but no reservation was made for this party.
Jeremiah Braxton, a party attendee, said two of his friends were among the wounded. He described the atmosphere as festive—with eating, dancing, and enjoyment—until a group of girls began arguing over boyfriends. “It just started a whole bunch of chaos,” he recounted.
Authorities continue to investigate and urge anyone with information to come forward.
