NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — Parents are angry, and children scared, after shots rang out during a Monday night youth baseball game in North Charleston, South Carolina.
According to the North Charleston Police Department, the incident happened in a parking lot near Pepperhill Park shortly before 8:45 p.m.
Police say two groups from outside the area brought their fight to the parking lot, which included men and women. The fight started with fists but ended in gunfire. More than 50 shots were fired while several youth baseball games went on at the fields at Pepperhill.
Video captured by Blake Ferguson — whose 8-year-old son was pitching when the chaos began — captured the terrifying moments.
Just as a player is getting ready to bat, a series of loud pops can be heard in the distance, followed by a short pause, then another series of loud pops. That’s when some kids freeze in fear, some take off running, and some drop to the ground.
Kids and coaches can be seen trying to crawl to safety as some parents try to direct them. No injuries have been reported as of Monday night.
“First when I heard the ‘boom boom, boom,’ I thought it was fireworks so I looked up but I didn’t see any fireworks,” one Little League player, Sylas Ferguson, said. “I heard my coach say ‘Get down, get down.'”
Ferguson said as he listened to his coach, he could hear bullets hit the fence.
Blake Ferguson also shared a photo of what appears to be a bullet hole in a car.
North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey and NCPD Assistant Chief Greg Gomes were reportedly shocked by the video and disturbed by the level of violence that put so many lives in danger.
NCPD vowed to investigate “this incident to the fullest extent of the law” and “do everything in their power to locate and arrest the individuals involved in this heinous and reckless act.”
Everyone involved in the incident fled before police were on the scene. Three guns were ditched and are now in detectives’ hands.
NCPD tried to calm the shaken community by reassuring people that the incident “had nothing to do with the Park, youth athletes, parents or coaches.” Additionally, NCPD leadership will meet with recreation officials Tuesday “to formulate a safety plan to ensure that our city’s youth can feel safe when playing on our parks and playgrounds.”
NCPD is working with local organizations to ensure everyone impacted has access to resources to help process the event.
Games at the ballpark are on hold for now, and when they resume there will be added security.
Still, Ferguson said his son is traumatized, as are the other kids involved.
“We’re imploring the public to come forward with information,” Gomes said. “I think we all seen that video and if that doesn’t pull it everyone’s heartstrings I don’t know what will.”
Editor’s note: This story is breaking and will be updated.