A late-night gathering at Meadowlake Park in South Carolina took a tragic turn on Saturday. Eleven people injured in total, with nine of them sustaining gunshot wounds. The incident occurred near Columbia, prompting Richland County deputies to respond to the scene at around 1:20 a.m.
Upon arrival, officers discovered only a handful of people remaining at the park, including a woman with leg injuries unrelated to the gunfire. Shortly after, local hospitals began reporting several gunshot victims arriving in emergency rooms, according to the sheriff’s department.
Investigators have collected dozens of shell casings from various weapons at the park. The gunshot victims, ranging in age from 16 to 20, suffered injuries of unspecified severity.
The gathering at Meadowlake Park was an after-hours party attended by numerous teenagers from several high schools. Authorities have confirmed that the event was not sponsored by the local recreation commission.
In connection with the incident, officers apprehended two teenagers driving away from the scene in a vehicle with its headlights off. A firearm was recovered from the vehicle, but it remains uncertain whether it was involved in the shooting.