Canton mayor angry about shooting at family-friendly Light Up Downtown
CANTON – A Canton woman pulled a small caliber pistol from her purse and fired three rounds in the air after being shoved to the ground Thursday night at the family-friendly Light Up Downtown festivities, Mayor Thomas Bernabei said.
No one was injured, but the crowd panicked after hearing the shots fired.
Police had her in custody "within 40 seconds," the mayor said.
"Unfortunately, these types of acts happen all across America and cannot always be prevented," Bernabei said in a news release. "Public safety is always our highest concern. I thank the Canton Police Department for protecting and serving our residents and for their quick arrest of the woman in this incident."
The 34-year-old woman, who lives on Second Street NE, was standing in the road at Fourth Street and Market Avenue N at 7:43 p.m. Thursday when she fired "several rounds at the crowded Light Up Downtown event, causing panic in the crowd," according to court records.
The shooting occurred after five or six people were shoving each other, the mayor said.
The woman was charged with inducing panic and discharge of a firearm upon or over a public roadway.
Rumors began circulating through social media, saying someone was shot. But Bernabei and police have said no one was harmed.
They also examined security video from cameras mounted downtown.
A fireworks display that had been scheduled for the event was rescheduled for Friday night based on a recommendation by the Canton Fire Department. It was due to the high winds and an effort to keep spectators and buildings safe, and not related to the shooting, the mayor said.
'I am angry and disturbed that this happened in our downtown.'
In addition to the news release addressing the gunfire, Bernabei also personally responded by email to a woman who wrote to him expressing her frustration about the incident. The email was also sent to The Canton Repository.
"I am angry and disturbed that this happened in our downtown at a family holiday event which was otherwise enjoyed by many," the mayor wrote. "I am grateful that no one was shot. Unfortunately, we live in a society in which gun ownership and gun possession is legal and protected by the Second Amendment. I am not a gun advocate."
He also told her that he understands how disturbing the incident was for her and others around it. He noted that public safety is the city's top concern.
"Every downtown event is reviewed in advance for security needs by the Police Department and there were many police officers on duty downtown last night," he added. "Unfortunately, all the security in the world cannot prevent or stop the idiotic acts of one or several persons."
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Light Up Downtown in Canton marred by shooting that scared crowd
