Uvalde Memorial Park Shooting Leaves 2 People Injured Days After New School Year Starts
Days after school started in the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, a shooting occurred in the county's Memorial Park, sparking worry in the community again.
But since the incident happened early Thursday evening, police have ruled out the danger in the area, citing the reason for the disturbance as gang-related.
Uvalde Police Investigating Memorial Park Shooting Incident
According to KVUE, the shooting occurred in the Uvalde Memorial Park at around 5 p.m. a 22-year-old and a juvenile were reportedly airlifted to a San Antonio hospital for treatment after sustaining injuries.
Police have only disclosed that a physical fight involving two rival gangs in the area took place before the shooting incident. Some reports said it seemed no assault rifle was used.
At least four people are in the custody of police and are being questioned to determine the cause of the violent encounter. They were seeking medical assistance in a nearby Uvalde hospital when the police approached them.
The two hospitalized individuals are reportedly in stable conditions. The Texas Department of Public Safety has already released a statement on the current route of the investigation.
"We are working with the Uvalde Police Department and Sheriff's Office following a suspected gang related shooting at Memorial Park. This information is preliminary, as the situation develops we will work with local law enforcement to provide updates," the agency noted.
According to KSAT, authorities had already announced that it was no longer "a dangerous situation for the general public."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has expressed his outrage at the latest Uvalde shooting.
"I immediately called Mayor (Don) McLaughlin and County Judge (Bill) Mitchell to offer the state's full support and resources as law enforcement hunts down the gang members. After speaking with the mayor and the county judge about the immediate need for more law enforcement support, I have directed the Department of Public Safety to conduct patrol operations in the gang hotspots, send an additional six DPS trooper units to work around the clock, and begin coordinating an anti-gang effort with the city," Abbott said in a statement.
The Uvalde Memorial Park is about two miles from Robb Elementary School, where 21 people were killed in a shooting on May 24.
READ NEXT: Uvalde Children Going Back to School After Shooting Tragedy, But Robb Elementary Won't Reopen
Uvalde CISD Opened Schools But Not Robb Elementary School
Earlier this week, the school year began for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) after pushback from the community for a later start.
But Robb Elementary will not yet reopen. The school has not reopened since the shooting happened. All surviving students were enrolled in various schools across the district where virtual learning is being offered.
Recently, Uvalde Police Chief Pete Arredondo, the situation commander at the time of the shooting, was fired after heightened calls from the parents, community, and national activists.
READ MORE: Uvalde Police Chief Pete Arredondo's' Unanimous' Termination Echoes Experts' Sentiments
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Ivan Korrs
WATCH: Shooting at Uvalde Memorial Park Leaves Juvenile Injured, 2 Suspects on the Run, Police Say - From KSAT 12
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