2 dead and 19 injured in shooting at street festival in Detroit

July 7 (UPI) – Early Sunday, 21 people were shot, two fatally, at a street festival in Detroit, authorities said, ending a deadly Independence Day weekend across the United States.

Little is known about the shooting. Michigan State Police confirmed this, posting the number of victims online and saying no suspects had been arrested.

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“The Michigan State Police are assisting the Detroit Police Department in the investigation of a shooting as part of our partnership with the Homicide Task Force,” police said in a statement. At the same time, citizens with information about the shooting were asked to contact authorities.

Detroit police also confirmed the shooting to local WDVI in a statement, saying someone opened fire at 2:25 a.m. at the street fair in the 13,000 block of Rossini.

“DPD will implement a comprehensive new strategy regarding street festivals and will announce full details tomorrow at a meeting with the police chief and mayor,” it said.

Although none of the victims have been identified, Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield said on X that their average age was 19.

“This unspeakable tragedy is another reminder that gun violence is an epidemic in Detroit and across the country,” she said. “We must chart a new course of action, and I urge everyone to pitch in to put an end to the senseless killings and destruction of families in our community.”

State Rep. Mai Xiong, who represents the northeastern district where the shooting occurred, said in a statement Sunday that she was “deeply saddened and heartbroken” by the recent violence.

“During what should have been a joyous Independence Day weekend, we are instead confronted with the devastating reminder that gun violence is coming far too close to home,” Xiong, a Democrat, said on X.

“As a community, we should come together to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate the freedoms we hold dear, not live in fear of tragedies like this. This incident underscores the urgent need to combat gun violence and work toward creating a safer environment for all.”

The shooting caps a violent Independence Day weekend across the United States that has seen several deadly shootings, including in Florence, Kentucky, where four people were killed and three injured in a shooting at a birthday party on Saturday.

The suspect, 21-year-old Chase Garvey, fled the scene but was found dead by pursuing police officers after he died from a gunshot wound.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks gun violence across the United States, there have been at least 277 mass shootings so far this year, with at least four victims.

The shooting in Kentucky was said to be the 16th mass shooting since Thursday, leaving at least 100 victims injured or killed.