Six individuals were shot in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Saturday night, with two of them critically injured, according to authorities.
Just after 11:45 pm, officers monitoring the neighborhood heard gunshots. Authorities in Cherry Street and the surrounding neighborhood arrived to find several parties exchanging gunshots and numerous persons fleeing the area, according to police.
Six People Shot in Chattanooga, Tennessee
According to police Sgt. Jeremy Eames, many gunshot victims, were brought to a hospital for treatment. He added that four are likely to live, while two are in critical condition. He noted that the majority of those killed were adolescents or in their early twenties, and at least one suspect has been apprehended in connection with the gunshots.
In accordance with the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 221 mass shootings this year. A mass shooting occurs when at least four persons are shot, excluding the perpetrator. The incident comes just days after an 18-year-old used a legally acquired AR-15 rifle to kill 19 students and two instructors at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, prompting new concerns about whether such weapons should be permitted.
The incident took place less than a mile from the Tennessee Aquarium and the city's riverfront on Saturday night, as per CNN. According to a news release issued by police spokesperson Jeremy Eames on Sunday, at least one person of interest was apprehended immediately after the incident on Saturday night. Nobody was charged.
Officers monitoring the neighborhood heard gunfire and witnessed many persons discharging firearms and leaving the scene. Officers began aiding casualties and directing others to safety. Many gunshot victims were rushed to a hospital, and two of the injuries were life-threatening.
The victims' ages were not immediately reported, but the majority were presumed to be teens and young adults. Large groups of youngsters were walking around downtown, and the shooting came from within that group. According to ABC News, not all of the victims were intentional targets of the gunshots. The region, which is peppered with residential structures, is popular with tourists and contains restaurants and stores within walking distance.
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Previous Shooting in Tennessee
A 17-year-old was detained a week ago in connection with a deadly shooting at a Tennessee university that occurred after a high school graduation ceremony on campus. The shooting happened just before 9 pm as a throng exited the Middle Tennessee State University event on Wednesday. Hasani Brewer, 18, was slain, and a 17-year-old high school student was injured.
Brewer and the teenager who was wounded were fighting when a third person opened fire, as reported by police spokesperson Larry Flowers during a press conference. Because of his age, the suspect, who is also 17, was not recognized. Flowers said he would be arraigned in juvenile court on a first-degree murder allegation.
The incident happened near tennis courts as people were leaving the Riverdale High School graduation ceremony, which was taking place on the university campus. He claimed the guy blended in with the throng as he went, and many fled. According to Rutherford County Schools spokesperson James Evans, the suspect is a former high school student.
The investigation into the incident is still underway to uncover a motive or what caused the shooting. The guy was apprehended near Clarksville, Tennessee, some 70 miles from Murfreesboro, but police think he is a Murfreesboro resident, according to Larry Flowers.
On Thursday, the injured student was reported as being in stable condition. Middle Tennessee State University stated that they were completely working on the investigation. On Thursday night, NBC News reported that another high school graduation ceremony took place on campus.