Fact check: Video shows crowd panicking after firecrackers, not a mass shooting in Pennsylvania
The claim: Video shows a mass shooting on July 4 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
In the wake of the Highland Park shooting, a livestreamed video circulating on Facebook purports to show the aftermath of a mass shooting at another July 4 celebration – this time in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
"Active shooter in harrisburg," reads a July 4 Facebook post that accumulated over 70 shares within one day.
The video shows a crowd of people gathered around to watch a fireworks display.
Similar claims have garnered hundreds of interactions on Facebook.
However, there was no shooting.
Local authorities said a fight broke out, and people in the area panicked after firecrackers were thrown onto the ground, and someone yelled, “Gun!” No shots were fired.
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Paste BN reached out to the Facebook users who shared the claim for comment.
No shooting occurred
Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter said in a press conference on July 5 that a fight broke out between multiple minors around 9 p.m. at Harrisburg's Front Street fireworks show.
"We have investigated and looked into it. There was no active shooters," Carter said. "Nobody can tell us with any certainty that they saw a gun or anything like that."
Carter said police used mace to break up the fight, and one person was arrested. There were no significant injuries reported from the incident.
“It was just that initial word, gun, that caused all that chaos,” Carter explained. “It’s understandably so because we’re living in a time when active shooters are prevalent.”
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The juveniles who started the fight were not from Harrisburg, Mayor Wanda Williams said at the same press conference.
"I want to assure the public that it is safe to come to the events in the city of Harrisburg," Williams said. "We will not tolerate the juveniles coming into the city of Harrisburg and causing chaos like that."
Our rating: False
Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that a video shows a mass shooting in Harrisburg. Attendees panicked amid a fight when someone shouted there was a gun. But police found no indication anyone had a gun, and no shots were fired.
Our fact-check sources:
- PolitiFact, July 6, There was no mass shooting in Harrisburg on Fourth of July, despite social media claims
- Paste BN, July 5, 'I grabbed my kid and ran': 6 dead, dozens injured in shooting at July 4th parade in Chicago suburb
- PennLive.com via Youtube, July 5, Harrisburg Mayor and police address false rumors of shooting at last night's fireworks event
- ABC 27 News, July 4, New details released after July 4 Harrisburg City incident
- City of Harrisburg, accessed July 20, July 4th Food Trucks & Fireworks
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