The sound of gunshots pierced the festive buzz just as Santa prepared to flip the switch for the holiday lights, turning a joyful community gathering into a scene of chaos and fear. Parents instinctively threw themselves over their children, shielding them as screams mingled with the echo of gunfire. What had been a cheerful
countdown only seconds earlier became a scramble for safety, with people diving behind vendor booths, inflatables, and holiday displays while officers rushed toward the source of the shots.Witnesses described the shift as instantaneous—one moment music played and families laughed, the next everyone was running.
Many initially believed fireworks had gone off until they saw people fall to the ground. Four individuals were hit during the exchange, including one of the gunmen, whose injuries were immediately deemed critical. First responders, already on-site for the event, quickly provided aid while police secured the area and directed families to safe zones.
Investigators later emphasized that the shooting was not an act of terrorism nor a planned attack on the holiday celebration. Instead, it stemmed from a personal dispute between individuals who happened to be at the event. Authorities believe the confrontation escalated rapidly
and violently, endangering dozens of innocent bystanders in the process.Eighteen-year-old **Nasir Ahmad Bostic** has been identified as one of the shooters. He faces multiple felony charges, including aggravated battery and weapons violations, and remains hospitalized under police guard due to his critical injuries.
The second shooter, a juvenile whose name has not been released, was also critically wounded and is being held on similar counts at a youth detention facility.Though the immediate threat has been contained, the community remains shaken as investigators continue gathering witness statements and reviewing surveillance footage to piece together the moments leading up to the gunfire.
