A Juneteenth celebration at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, Texas, descended into tragedy on Saturday night when a shooting left two people dead and six injured, including two children. The incident occurred shortly before 11 pm during a concert at the park, located about 19 miles north of Austin. According to Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks, an altercation erupted between two groups during the concert, and someone opened fire. The two individuals who were fatally wounded were not involved in the argument, Banks confirmed.
The shooting took place near a vendor area, away from the main stage where the concert was being held. Round Rock Police confirmed in a statement on X that 14 victims were transported to local hospitals with gunshot wounds, and two were declared deceased at the scene. They added that the department is actively searching for a suspect, described as a Black male with a thin build, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, with short dreadlocks, and wearing a white hoodie at the time of the incident. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the accused.
On Sunday, police stated they did not have a suspect in custody and were still investigating the number of shooters involved. “It breaks your heart for a family that was coming out to enjoy their evening and now their life is forever changed as a result of somebody who could care less about somebody else’s life,” Allen said, expressing the grief felt by the community.
Social media reacted with shock and disbelief to the incident. Some users questioned the effectiveness of gun control laws in preventing such tragedies, while others expressed frustration over the timing of the shooting, questioning how a celebration of freedom from slavery could be marred by violence.
This incident is part of a disturbing trend of mass shootings in public spaces across the United States. Just days prior, several people were injured in a shooting at a splash pad in Rochester Hills, Michigan. In a separate incident on June 2, a mass shooting in Akron, Ohio, claimed one life and left at least 26 people injured. These incidents underscore the ongoing issue of gun violence and the need for effective measures to address it.
