Gun recovered at Kennywood Park was stolen from vehicle in Ohio, police said
WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. (KDKA) -- A gun found after a weekend shooting at Kennywood was reported stolen from Ohio, police said Monday, though there was still no word on how the gun got into the park.
A trace ran on a firearm found at the park after the shooting shows it was stolen from a vehicle in Columbus, Ohio, in August of 2021, Allegheny County police said. That weapon was found by responding officers near the scene. They have not confirmed if it was the gun used in the shooting.
Two 15-year-old boys and a 39-year-old man were wounded in the gunfire at the park late Saturday. Police said they have found nothing to confirm any of the victims were directly involved in the altercation. All three victims were treated and released from the hospital for leg wounds.
Police swarmed the park just before 11 p.m. after reports of an altercation and shots fired in front of the Musik Express ride, investigators said. Witnesses reported two groups of young people involved in a fight.
"Hearing there's a shooter with everything that's going on in today's day and age, the immediate thought is this could be a mass shooting," Jon Walker said.
Jon and Jacqueline Walker saw a herd of people running for the exit. They saw others hiding in bushes. She went and hid in a restroom.
"I just stood by the door until the police identified themselves and said we could evacuate," Jacqueline Walker said.
"Hearing there's a shooter with everything that's going on in today's day and age, the immediate thought is this could be a mass shooting," Jon Walker said.
Some guests like Katherine Shaw thought the shots were sound effects in the park.
"I kind of blew it off thinking, 'this is Phantom Fest.' When you're in that mindset, you're thinking you're here at night where everyone is trying to scare everyone and it's fun," Shaw told KDKA.
Until police cleared the scene, many guests and staff who didn't run out of the park sheltered in hiding places.
"We have a whole room where teenagers are huddled up in a corner. We have kids to my right, they're crying. There's parents, adults separated from their kids on the phone trying to get their kids," Shaw said.
"They have to do better," Jacqueline Walker said over Zoom. "It's just unacceptable for that to even happen."
No suspects have been identified at this time, but investigators describe the gunman as a male who was wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt and a dark-colored, COVID-19 mask.
Police continue to review tips and video evidence. Allegheny County police are working with West Mifflin police and Kennywood security on the investigation. The park says it will continue to cooperate with the police investigation.
"We avoided lots of trauma but I'm sure other kids did not. There were separations. It was a nightmarish scene. In the parking lot people were crying," Jacqueline Walker said.
Anyone with information is asked to called the Allegheny County Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
