The gunfire erupted at Leon Day Park around 6:15 p.m. as two men quarreled over a parking spot during a youth football match. A 12‑year‑old spectator and a nearby woman were hit by stray bullets, the former succumbing to her wounds after being rushed to a hospital.
Police Commissioner Richard Worley confirmed that the girl was not the intended target and that the two men involved were brought to nearby hospitals for non‑life‑threatening injuries. He urged anyone who witnessed the scene to come forward as the investigation continues.
Mayor Brandon Scott condemned the tragedy, calling the incident “one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen.” He urged the community to unite against violence and pledged a city‑wide review of gun‑related incidents.
The police are canvassing the park and surrounding areas, collecting ballistic evidence and conducting interviews with players, parents, and on‑lookers. A formal inquiry will be convened by the city council next week to address policy gaps that may have contributed to the incident.
For the 12‑year‑old, the loss is a lifetime of grief for her parents, who had come to cheer their son’s team. Their story underscores the human cost of gun violence in public spaces.