1 killed, 11 injured at Dallas outdoor concert, police say

DALLAS — One person was killed and at least 11 others -- including three children -- were wounded after a shooting at an outdoor concert in Dallas late Saturday, authorities said.

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Officers were called just after 11:30 p.m. CDT to reports of a shooting at a concert, located in the southern part of the city, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Police said that Kealon Dejuane Gilmore, 26, of Dallas, was found lying near the stage with a gunshot wound to his head, WFAA-TV reported. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the newspaper reported.

Update 3:24 p.m. EDT April 3: In a statement, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said the shootings were “horrific and unacceptable,” WFAA reported.

“Last night’s violence was horrific and unacceptable. I am praying for the victims, and I look forward to our police department bringing those responsible to justice,” Johnson said. “Public safety remains our top priority, and I will be conferring with Police Chief Eddie Garcia to see what more can be done to stop this kind of violence in our city.”

Original report: According to a preliminary investigation, one person fired a bullet into the air and another person fired into the crowd, KXAS-TV reported.

The concert venue was an open field scattered with outdoor lights and abandoned cars, the Morning News reported. It was promoted as the second annual Epic Easter Bike Out and Field Party, according to a VIP pass found at the site. The event included live performances, an Easter egg hunt and invited patrons to ride ATVs or horses, the newspaper reported.

The event was to be headlined by Memphis rapper Big Boogie, WFAA reported. According to a post on the performer’s Instagram page, the shooting occurred before he arrived at the venue, the television station reported.

Michelle White, 43, was near the side of the stage when she heard what she said sounded like “firecrackers.”

White, who was driving an ATV, said she helped two wounded people, according to the Morning News. One man had been shot in the leg and a woman had been grazed by a bullet. White said she loaded the two people onto her vehicle and attempted to push through a panicked crowd that was rushing to leave.

“I’ve never felt more helpless in my life,” White told the newspaper.

“Everybody was running,” Lulu Smith, who attended the event with her daughter, told WFAA. “It was so jam-packed right here, you couldn’t get in or out. When I got to my car, somebody was shooting. I rolled down my window and I heard [shots].”

One victim is in critical condition, and the others are in stable condition, KXAS reported.

No arrests have been made, The Associated Press reported. The investigation is ongoing, police said.

Saturday night’s shooting occurred two weeks after 10 people were shot during a spring break party at a Dallas venue, according to the AP.

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