Syracuse police are investigating an Independence Day shooting in Thornden Park in which a 20-year-old man was shot in the head.

Around 7:45 p.m. Saturday night, SPD responded to a shooting in Thornden Park where they found the man who had been shot in the head and also learned that two other victims, ages 18 and 17, had been taken to Upstate University Hospital with non-life threatening gunshot wounds. The 20-year-old victim is currently in critical condition, according to SPD.

Shaquez Collins, age 16 of Syracuse, was arrested and charged with assault in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He is currently lodged in the Onondaga County Justice Center awaiting arraignment, according to SPD.

A witness told SPD that there were three cookouts taking place with large crowds near the amphitheater in the park, which is located between Syracuse University and the Westcott neighborhood, according to a July 4 Syracuse.com article. The man, who declined to be publicly identified, added that there were fireworks exploding everywhere, according to the article.

The witness said he suddenly saw a man “go down” in the grassy area between the park road and the amphitheater. Everybody started running after that, he said. Families fled for cover, leaving piles of food, picnic blankets and baby strollers around the picnic area, according to the article.

SPD barricaded the entrances to the park within minutes after the shooting and set up a perimeter as they searched for suspects. Initially, the police presence stretched from Erie Boulevard to Euclid Avenue, but soon it focused on one section of the park road, according to the article.

The shooting occurred between the amphitheater and the basketball courts and SPD used tape to block off the road as officers searched the park grounds, according to the Syracuse.com article.

The Department of Public Safety at SU could not be reached for comment.

The investigation into the shooting is “very active and ongoing,” according to SPD.

Published on July 5, 2015 at 3:51 pm

Contact Sara: smswann@syr.edu | @saramswann