5 teens shot at senior gathering in Maryland park: police

Five teenagers were injured after gunshots rang out during a large gathering of high school students participating in a senior jump day in Maryland, police said.

Officers from several law enforcement agencies were responding to help control a crowd of 500 to 600 students who had gathered in Greenbelt’s Schrom Hills Park Friday afternoon when they heard several gunshots ring out , according to Greenbelt Police Chief Richard Bowers.

Five male victims, aged 16 to 18, were found with gunshot wounds, Bowers said. All five victims were transported to local hospitals. One is in critical condition and the other four are stable, Bowers said.

A suspect in the shooting reportedly fled the park when the crowd dispersed following the gunfire and has not been located at this time, Bowers said. Police believe there was only one shooter, he said.

The police chief called the shooting a “horrible, tragic and senseless act.”

“These were kids at a senior jump day looking to have a good time at a local park, and to see something like this happen is just infuriating,” Bowers said.

Students had initially gathered in Bowie, Maryland, for Senior Day and were asked to disperse by local law enforcement, a spokesperson for the Greenbelt Police Department told ABC News . Many of those students then moved to Schrom Hills Park, where they got into a large water gun fight before the shooting, police said.

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Greenbelt Mayor Emmett Jordan said the rally was “organized informally” on social media.

“We don’t condone truancy, but it’s truant day for seniors,” Bowers said. “It’s just a tragedy.”

Students from several area high schools reportedly visited the park, the chief said.

A motive remains unclear.

The shooting remains under investigation. Bowers urged anyone with footage of the incident to contact police. Investigators will also review body-worn camera footage, he said.

“We know that the person involved is definitely on camera somewhere,” Bowers said.