Photo courtesy of NBC News
A 15-year-old boy was killed, and three people, including a police officer, were shot at a music festival in downtown Washington D.C. Sunday night, police said.
Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee told the media following the shooting that several hundred people attended the Juneteenth advocacy and music festival “Moechella,” calling it an “unpermitted event,” Fox 5 D.C. reported. Contee explained that events are required to have a permit to coordinate with D-DOT for street closures, police security, and the Department of Public Works for clean-up.
Moechella concerts were established in 2019. According to the events Instagram page, it was described as a “peaceful demonstration” featuring several artists performing on U-Street, a historically Black neighborhood in the city.
Police shut down the event after two separate incidents, including a fight with attendees, earlier in the evening. Multiple videos circulated on social media, capturing several people being “trampled” and injured while fleeing the festival. A firearm was recovered from the scene following the second incident.
“Illegal firearms in the hands of people who should not have them make events like this unsafe for people who just want to enjoy the beautiful weather,” Contee said, per The New York Times.
No suspects have been arrested, and police have not confirmed a motive that led to the shooting.
Three adults, including a police officer, were shot and taken to local hospitals to recover. However, a 15-year-old identified as Chase Lorenzo Poole had died.
Antionique Murray, one of Poole’s loved ones, told FOX 5 that her mom was the teen’s godmother who helped raise him. She said the 15-year-old was an innocent bystander and called on the community for answers.
“He was a baby … he didn’t have anything to do with what was going on,” Murray said. “If ya’ll know anything. I know about the snitches and all that. I understand this in my community. I Understand it. But when it comes to children, babies. They’re our future. And they’re dying. So somebody gotta say something.”
Since Juneteenth also fell on Father’s Day this year, many festival-goers celebrated both holidays this past weekend. However, Contee said, “there’s a criminal side where we have a 15-year-old who is dead. His parents are preparing a funeral for a young man the day after Father’s Day. That saddens my heart.”
He also pleaded with attendees who may have video footage or photos of the possible suspect to provide the information to authorities to make an arrest.
“If you were there at that event, and you were there in the spirit of Juneteenth. If you really respect the ancestors and all the things that happened and got us to this point, hey, stand up and call in and let us know who’s responsible for killing this young man,” Contee added.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also called for those who caused the incident to be held accountable for their actions, per USA Today.
“We have a child who was killed today at an event that did not have any proper planning,” Bowser said.
“We need some accountability here.”