CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 19-year-old man faces charges in connection with a mass shooting that injured five people at Romare Bearden Park on New Year’s Eve. Daevion Crawford fired a gun into a crowd of people, striking five individuals, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
The shooting occurred just before midnight as thousands of families were gathered in the park. Video footage showed families running for cover and safety when the gunfire erupted, leaving four females and a male with non-life-threatening injuries. At least two of the victims were visiting from out of the country, and all five were shot below the knee.
Crawford is facing five counts of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill and one count of going armed to the terror of the public. His bond is set at $750,000, and he was not deemed to be an active shooter, according to police reports. The investigation into the incident remains active and ongoing.
Local resident Samira Urban, who was at the park with her children to watch the fireworks, described the scene as chaotic. She mentioned that there were multiple fights in the crowd hours before the shooting, and tensions were high enough to prompt her and her family to leave before the fireworks began.
This incident stands as another of several disruptions at Romare Bearden Park, including a large fight in July 2023 which resulted in numerous arrests. On New Year’s Eve, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded to multiple other disturbances throughout the night in Uptown, which involved 11 kids and an adult.
In addition to the shooting, two CMPD officers were assaulted and had minor injuries, and another officer sustained minor injuries when an unknown chemical substance was thrown at them. A 15-year-old boy was also charged with possession of a handgun by a minor, no operator’s license, and resisting a public officer.
The department’s detectives attempted to obtain a custody order for the juvenile suspect, who has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple auto thefts, resisting a public officer, larceny from a vehicle, breaking-and-entering, and assault with a deadly weapon. He was ultimately released to a family member despite the attempts to secure a custody order.