CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One man has been arrested in connection with a shooting Sunday inside a popular Uptown Charlotte park.
CMPD said 37-year-old Kashif Simmons opened fire on two people he knew, sending them to the hospital.
The shots rang out, as multiple events were underway in Uptown including a Charlotte Knights game, a Charlotte FC match and the Charlotte SHOUT! arts festival, attracting thousands.
“I got up, ran to my balcony," Matt McIver, who lives within eye-shot of the park, said. "I just see civilians running and then I was like, oh, crap. It’s probably a shooting.”
Police said off and on-duty officers arrived just minutes after the shots began around 4 p.m., and were quickly able to provide emergency aid to the victims and locate and apprehend Simmons.
"They got into a verbal confrontation which, unfortunately, resulted in gun violence," CMPD Maj. Torri Tellis said. “It’s always a concern… where you have folks moving around enjoying their day and minding their own business, but that’s why we staff and always have our officers in the areas, always paying attention.”
Charlotte At-Large Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera was among those just blocks away when the shots rang out.
“What have we come to as a nation where our children are living in fear," Councilwoman Ajmera said.
She said the city and county continue to seek solutions to gun violence through their Alternatives to Violence program, enhancing recruitment, investing into nonprofits and addressing crime, employment and affordable housing.
“It’s currently implemented for Beatties Ford corridor," Councilwoman Ajmera said. "We’re looking to implement that over at Nations Ford, Arrow Wood, and we’re going to continue to do that, but again, an easy access to guns is clearly an issue.”
On the state level, nonprofit North Carolinians Against Gun Violence is also advocating for change.
“No one policy or program is going to stop all gun violence," Becky Ceartas, who works with the organization, said. "There are things like permit to purchase laws or universal background checks that require everyone to get a background check, no matter where they’re buying their gun.”
As they work toward a possible solution, Charlotteans are just hoping shots don't ring out at the park again.
Simmons has been charged with attempted first degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, and discharging a firearm in city limits.
Kayland Hagwood: Contact Kayland Hagwood at khagwood@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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