Evidence of Shots Fired During Party at Brooklyn Center Park

A large Fourth of July gathering at a Brooklyn Center park included evidence of shots fired, police said.

According to Brooklyn Center police, a large group began setting up a speaker system at the south pavilion in Centennial Park. City recreation staff responded and urged the group to shut down the event because they did not have a permit. Attendees agreed to do so at that time, police said.

However at around 6 p.m. Tuesday, Brooklyn Center police had to respond because they learned the party had not shut down and the event had grown to approximately 200 to 400 youth. An alert sent out by police said the “entire police staff working” was asked to respond to disperse the crowd.

Officers and city staff met with organizers of the group explaining why the large party had to be shut down.

“Some of the reasons included, not enough portable restrooms, no extra fee paid for cleanup, no permit was obtained, the proximity to residences with amplified sound, and no security plan or team,” read a statement put out by police.

After about an hour, the group “dispersed peacefully,” police said.

Once the crowd moved on, police say officers recovered evidence of five gunshots in the parking lot. No one was injured, nor was a complaint filed, police said. However, Brooklyn Center police Cmdr. Tony Gruenig said there is a “pretty strong link” between the time of the gathering and when the shots were fired.

“We can’t say for certain, but they weren’t there very long,” said Gruenig about the rounds fired.

Brooklyn Park Police Break Up Large Park Disturbance

Brooklyn Park police, meanwhile, broke up a similar gathering Saturday night at River Park.

Officers responded shortly before 9 p.m. to a report of loud music and several hundred juveniles at the park. In that case, officers had previously issued a verbal warning to shut down the party when the group was at around 40 people.

Police advised the group of city ordinance violations.

An alert sent out by Brooklyn Park police said a “prolonged police presence was necessary to clear the park.”

Also See: Brooklyn Park Police Again Work To Break Up Large Disturbances at City Parks

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