A festive evening turns terrifying
A holiday-celebration in downtown Concord, North Carolina descended into panic on Friday evening after gunshots rang out during the city’s Christmas tree lighting. At least four individuals were hit by gunfire — among them three sustaining serious injuries, while one remains in stable condition. Police swiftly secured the scene and cancelled the remainder of the event.
Witnesses recount horrifying moments
Balloon-artist Brett Ford recalled the harrowing moment: “We had a line of probably 250-300 people, and then all of a sudden, you heard what you thought was fireworks … and then all panic broke loose. Everybody scattered, everybody started running, people were falling down.”Another attendee described children trembling, parents shielding them, and chaos replacing the goodwill of the gathering.
Response and investigation underway
According to officials, the gunfire commenced around 7:30 p.m., prompting immediate response from the police who placed crime-scene tape and evacuated attendees. The city confirmed the incident and is actively seeking any witnesses or footage to aid the investigation. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Concord Police Department at 704-920-5027.
