Approximately midafternoon in Community Park, a shooter opened fire near Davis Senior High School
By HANNAH SCHRADER, CHRIS PONCE — city@theaggie.org
City of Davis police and first responders were dispatched to North Davis following reports of a shooting on April 12. The shooting occurred at Community Park, leaving three people shot and one injured during a gathering sponsored by a UC Davis campus organization.
At 2:58 p.m., officers responded to several gunshots at the park. On the scene, police located three gunshot victims and an additional victim that was trampled, according to a statement from the Davis Police Department. An initial report said that an individual was trampled as people fled the scene, but Dan Beckwith later told The Sacramento Bee that this was “likely not accurate.” Information regarding the victims’ injuries is still developing and has not been specified at time of reporting.
The gunshot victims were two teenages and a 24-year-old with “non-life-threatening injuries,” according to city officials.
“All four people were treated and transported to the hospital,” the Davis Police Department said in a statement made on Facebook.
At 3:29 p.m., UC Davis sent an Aggie Alert telling the public to “avoid the area of 14th St/Community Park in the City of Davis due to police activity.” Davis Senior High School (DHS) was in session and on lockdown during the incident.
The investigation is ongoing, with the suspect still at large. The Davis Police Department stated in their Facebook update that they do “not believe there is any ongoing threat to the community, but we will have extra officers on duty all night throughout the City.”
April 12 is also one the university’s largest events of the year — Picnic Day. Consequently, police from neighboring cities were already present in the area due to previously scheduled Picnic Day activities, according to authorities.
“As part of the normal Picnic Day planning, several neighboring law enforcement agencies were already in the City and also responded to assist,” Davis police said in their statement.
Mayor Bapu Vaitla alongside Davis Police Chief Todd Henry made a joint statement on April 13 addressing the crimes.
“Picnic Day, whether on-campus or in the surrounding city, should be a celebration of joy and belonging for everyone,” city officials said in their statement made on Facebook. “As we move forward, we encourage everyone to take a moment to breathe, reconnect and ease back into the rhythm of daily life.”
The university stated that city police are leading the investigation, according in a statement made the day of the incident.
“Picnic Day is a day when tens of thousands of visitors join us as we celebrate our people, programs and community,” the university said in their statement. “Our hearts go out to our students who organize such a massive effort on campus, and to all those in the city of Davis, where activities often peaceably continue.”
This is a developing story. Follow The Aggie for continued updates.
Written By: Hannah Schrader, Chris Ponce — city@theaggie.org
