Gunshots at event panic, scatter attendees

Hundreds of spectators scattered, but nobody was seriously injured at the Martin Luther King Jr. parade downtown Monday afternoon after a teenager fired gunshots into the air, Las Vegas police said.

Chaos ensued after the shots rang out, parade watchers said.

"The crowd was running up and down, tripping over each other," said Renick "Reptile" Lambey, 48. "They were screaming 'Somebody got shot.'"

Other spectators described a similar scene, where about 200 people scattered in all directions looking for cover. Police said the shots were fired about 1:45 p.m. on Fourth and Fremont streets.

Many said they were disappointed and angry the day meant to honor a man of peace was marred by violence.

"It's supposed to be a peaceful day," said Redd Sailor, 47, who rode through the parade with his Soul Brothers motorcycle club. "They're acting crazy. These youngsters don't understand. They don't understand the meaning of this day."

Mosha Kerns, 17, said she did understand the meaning of the holiday honoring King, but it was obvious the shooter did not. She thought it was sadly ironic the parade ended in gunfire.

"Someone didn't believe in Martin Luther King's dream," Kerns said.

Las Vegas police Capt. William Minor said the teen, who has not been caught, fired the gun while he was standing either below or right in front of one the awnings at the Walgreens at 495 Fremont St. Five people were detained by police after the shooting, and a semi-automatic weapon was recovered. None of the detainees was arrested, Minor said.

Minor said the gun confiscated was different from the gun fired by the assailant. Police determined that shell casings recovered near the shooting did not match the confiscated weapon, he said.

He said witnesses, including one officer, saw a hand pointing upwards, firing shots into the air. Minor said Monday's shooting could have ended in tragedy.

"When you have someone do something this idiotic and no one's hurt, it's a great thing," Minor said.

Monday's shooting wasn't the first time violence tarnished the Martin Luther King Jr. parade.

In 2001, a gang-related street brawl involving 20 or 30 people along the parade route forced organizers to end the parade 30 minutes early. In 1994, someone fired a gunshot into a crowded street corner during the parade. No one was hit, but several, including a 10-year-old boy, were injured when bystanders ran for cover. In 1986, police arrested seven gang members for fighting during the parade.

Minor said police didn't know whether a gang member was behind Monday's shooting.

Ken Evans, a co-chair of the parade committee, said he estimated about 10,000 people attended the event. Despite the shooting, it will continue next year to ensure King's dream of having people from all backgrounds living together and interacting in peace, he said.

"The last thing we can afford to do is to let something like this detract us from fulfilling Dr. King's legacy," Evans said.

Review-Journal writer David Kihara contributed to this report. Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-4638.