Harrisburg Mayor Injured in July 4th Incident Considers Ending Annual Fireworks Show

The 12-minute, abbreviated fireworks display that hit the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg on Thursday could be the city’s last Fourth of July spectacle.

Mayor Wanda Williams, whose leg was injured as an 18-year-old gunman fled police, and Police Commissioner Tom Carter said at a news conference Friday that no decision had been made on fireworks for next year.

Carter said that decision will have to await his department’s further study of how to better secure the RiverFront Park event that draws thousands of people — which on Thursday included minors and older teens carrying firearms.

“We’re going to take security measures next year if the mayor decides to have fireworks,” Carter told the assembled media after his officers arrested two people and detained a third during Thursday night’s aborted fireworks celebration.

“We want to look at how best to protect our visitors and the citizens of this city,” the commissioner said. “We are taking every measure possible, but I am sure there are things we can improve.”

Carter appeared to dismiss the idea of ​​police using metal detectors to usher people into the park for the event. He said there were too many access points to the park along Front Street for that to be possible.

The only person injured in Thursday night’s incident was the mayor herself. After exiting the elevator for the news conference, Williams limped and walked slowly. In response to a reporter’s question, the mayor said she was wearing a knee brace.

After speaking briefly at the podium, Williams sat down while Carter finished the news conference and took questions.

“Out of the thousands of people there, it was the mayor, she was the one who got trampled,” Carter said.

The commissioner said Williams was in the mayor’s tent with a child in his arms when an armed 18-year-old suspect fleeing police ran through the tent, knocking Willams and the child over and trampling her. The suspect then ran across the Walnut Street Bridge and threw the gun into the river before being apprehended.

Carter said a police diver was in the river Friday trying to recover the weapon. The commissioner did not provide further information about the suspect or what charges he will face. He said those decisions would be made in consultation with Dauphin County Prosecutor Fran Chardo and her office.

A second suspect, whom Carter described as a juvenile but did not give his age, was arrested with a Glock modified to fire as an automatic weapon with a magazine holding more than 20 rounds. The suspect was detained but no charges have been filed.

A second juvenile was arrested for carrying a pellet gun stuck in his pants. He was released to his parents, Carter said.

Carter and Williams both credited the more than 20 city police officers who were providing security for the event and who spotted the suspects with “bulges” in their pants, indicating a gun. Carter said officers were aware of some of the suspects and were monitoring them before the fireworks began around 9:15 p.m.

But as the show went on, reports surfaced of at least three people armed with guns in the crowd. Additionally, other people began lighting firecrackers that Williams said were meant to mimic the sound of guns “popping” to “scare people to death.”

Because of all this, Carter recommended that Williams stop the $22,000 fireworks show just before the grand finale began at 9:27 p.m.

Carter and Williams said police’s keen observations, as well as their quick response to some suspects who Carter said could be linked to gang activity, prevented a crowd stampede that could have injured dozens of people.

“The officers prevented a serious incident from happening yesterday,” Carter said. “Our officers were on scene and responded very, very quickly. We were able to apprehend the individuals.”

Carter and the mayor both apologized for ending the fireworks early, but the commissioner said public safety was the overriding concern.

“I’m sorry, you know, it happened,” Carter said. “I’m sorry the mayor got hurt. But I’m glad, you know, nobody else got hurt.”

Carter referred to the stampede caused by firecrackers that people mistook for gunshots two years ago during New York’s Fourth of July celebration. The stampede left several people injured and also separated young children from their parents. Carter said his call to end fireworks early Thursday night helped prevent that from happening again.

Williams told Harrisburg residents and visitors: “I am just as angry and frustrated as all of you. We had our wonderful family celebration yesterday, and it was ruined. I am personally sorry.”

A video shows Williams limping after the incident:

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