22 injured, suspect killed in N.J. arts festival shooting

June 17 (UPI) — Twenty-two people were injured and one suspect died in a shooting early Sunday during an arts festival in Trenton, N.J., authorities said.

Four people, including a 13-year-old boy, are in critical condition and among about 1,000 people that attended the 24-hour event during the shooting, police said. Seventeen people had gunshot wounds, police said.

The shooting began around 2:45 a.m. Sunday at the Art All Night Trenton 2018 festival at the Roebling Wire Works Building.

Several individuals opened fire in the venue, police said. One, a 33-year-old man, died and another was taken into police custody, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said in an NJ.com report. Police said multiple weapons were recovered.

During a late-morning news conference, Onofri said officials believe an officer shot the deceased suspect. He also announced two more victims arrived at area hospitals, raising the total from 20.

“It absolutely could have been worst given the confined space and the number of shots that appeared to have been fired,” Onofri said.

Irving Higginbotham said he was shot four times.

“Everybody was having a nice time. The next thing you know, there were gunshots, got shot in the leg, fell on the ground, and that was it,” Higginbotham said to WABC-TV.’

Angelo Nicolo said he saw one person with a gunshot wound to a leg.

“And all of a sudden, my brother goes to me, ‘You hear that gunfire?’ I go, ‘It sounds like fireworks.’ He said, ‘No, that’s gunfire.’ ” Nicolo said to WABC-TV. “Next thing you know, we turn around and everybody’s running down the street. All hell broke loose.”

The 12th annual event started at 3 p.m. Saturday and was scheduled to run until 3 p.m. Sunday, featuring 1,500 pieces of local art, live murals, live art instructions and 60 plus musical acts performing on three stages.

On its Art All Night Facebook page, it said ti was canceling the rest of the event, and posted: “We’re very shocked. We’re deeply saddened. Our hearts ache and our eyes are blurry but our dedication and resolve to building a better Trenton through community, creativity and inspiration will never fade. Not tonight. Not ever.”