EDMOND, Oklahoma — An altercation at a weekend gathering sparked gunfire that injured 23 people at an Oklahoma park, with one victim remaining in critical condition, authorities announced Tuesday.
No arrests have been made following Sunday evening’s violence, though investigators believe the public faces no continued threat, according to Sgt. James Hamm, spokesperson for Edmond police.
The violence erupted at a picnic shelter near Arcadia Lake, a well-known recreation area for water activities located just north of Oklahoma City.
Social media promotion had drawn a substantial crowd of primarily young adults to the gathering, authorities reported.
Officers were already en route to address noise complaints when the gunfire began, Hamm explained.
Several different groups had assembled at the event, and violence broke out following a dispute, he noted. As of Tuesday, one shooting victim remained in serious condition, Hamm confirmed.
Oklahoma City area medical facilities reported treating 18 individuals from the incident on Monday. Hospital officials indicated the injured ranged from 16 to 30 years old.
While some victims sustained minor wounds and were discharged after treatment, additional people may have been struck but chose not to seek medical care, Hamm suggested.
Many shooting victims were uninvolved in the original dispute and were “simply attending the party,” he noted.
Authorities declined to discuss potential suspects, the number of shooters, or weapon types used, with Hamm citing the need to protect the ongoing investigation.
Edmond Mayor Mark Nash stated Monday that while the public park allows reservations for large events, none had been secured for this gathering.
Party attendee Jeremiah Braxton reported that two of his friends were wounded in the shooting. He described the event as enjoyable, with people eating and dancing, until an argument between women over romantic relationships began.
“It just started a whole bunch of chaos,” he said Monday.
