Police: Back to school bash grew out of hand, turned violent
ATLANTA - They called it a “back to school bash” and for a while, it was with activities for kids, back to school supplies for students, and music by Rapper 21 Savage.
As day turned to night Saturday at Coan Park where the Zone 6 Day event for East Atlanta was held the permitted 200 people turned to thousands. Then things took a violent turn when someone fired shots into the crowd hitting a 23-year-old man in the leg.
Atlanta Police officers said they had enough staff on site for the guests and even had additional resources like off-duty officers for the larger than expected crowd. But when the gunfire started, people panicked and police said they had to flood the party zone with even more back up officers.
For that, Atlanta Police Spokesperson Carlos Campos told FOX 5 News the event organizers should be responsible for paying for the additional police reinforcement.
Campos said Atlanta Parks and Rec gave the party organizers for 200 people, not thousands.
While the city calculates the costs for the extra staff needed, Campos said they will also be billing the organizers for clean-up costs.
As for the gunfire, police said the shooter was still on the loose as of Monday, but the vehicle investigators believe the shooter was in, was found with guns and marijuana inside.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 reward for the shooter's capture.