Eight people shot at Martin Luther King Jr Day event in Florida

Miami, Jan 16 (EFE).- At least eight people were shot during a car show and block party to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr Day in Fort Pierce, Florida, authorities reported Monday.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said officers went to Ilous Ellis Park upon receiving news of a shooting and are still investigating.

At about 5.20 pm shots rang out causing “mass chaos” among the more than 1,000 people at the event and at least eight people were shot, with one in critical condition.

“There was a disagreement of some sort between two parties and unfortunately they chose to resolve that with guns,” St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Brian Hester said in a press conference published by WPTV news.

The shots caused the attendees to start running in all directions and some people were also injured in the ensuring mêlée.

It was not clear if suspects had been identified, but police were following leads.

“It’s really sad in a celebration of someone who represented peace and equality that a disagreement results in a use of guns and violence to solve that disagreement,” Hester said, referring to the 94th birth anniversary of King Jr, the civil rights leader and activist who was assassinated on Apr. 4, 1968

“And then so many innocent people that were injured or hurt that were not part of the disagreement as well.”