Three women were injured in a shooting Saturday at a Boynton Beach park where hundreds of people gathered at an event meant to advocate against violence in the community.
Boynton Beach Police received multiple calls about 8 p.m. about shots being fired into the crowd at Sara Sims Park, Chelsea Sanabia, a police department spokesperson, said in a statement Monday.
Officers found one woman who was shot in her thigh, Sanabia said. Two other women who were shot arrived at hospitals on their own.
Investigators said “multiple rival gang members” shot at each other, putting people in the crossfire, including children. Multiple occupied and unoccupied cars were also shot, according to the police department.
Several other people had minor injuries after the shooting and were treated at hospitals or at the park by Boynton Beach Fire Rescue, the police department said. All were expected to recover.
About 500 people attended the “Peace in the Hood” event at Sara Sims Park on Saturday evening, which was not sanctioned by the city. Last month, the organizer applied for a permit to host an event called “Stop Violence Awareness” for 20 people, Sanabia said. The city’s Recreation and Parks Department denied the permit within a week, refunded the deposit and notified the organizer.
Detective have “multiple persons of interest” but no one has been arrested as of Monday afternoon.
The police department asks anyone with information to contact Det. Steele at SteeleS@bbfl.us or 561-742-6148.
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