Edgewater Park shooting suspects sought; what incident means for July 4 celebration

CLEVELAND (WJW) – The FOX 8 I-Team has obtained new video and new pictures of suspects from a shootout at Edgewater Park.

So, the I-Team pressed the Cleveland Metroparks about guest safety there on July 4. What will be done to keep you safe there on a holiday when crowds always fill the park to capacity?

Metroparks police say they’re now doing more for security at Edgewater Park than ever before.

New police video shows Metroparks police taking back control of Edgewater Park minutes after a shootout left a crowd running for cover. Security video shows bullets ricocheting and ripping through the park.

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“Everyone out. Park’s closed. Out,” an officer said in the video.

Investigators say at least 16 people pulled guns.

The new video also shows the sunset ruined by the violence. As an officer walks along the water clearing the beach, you see a peaceful setting except for flashing police lights in the parking lot.

Meanwhile, investigators released new pictures of suspects. You can see a number of them holding guns. In one chilling picture, you can also see a muzzle flash as a shot is fired.

Video released earlier shows police taking a gun off of a teen at the scene. 

“How do you convince people if they come here on July 4th they’ll be safe?” the I-Team asked Metroparks Police Chief Kelly Stillman.

“We are fully committed to making sure that this does not ever, ever happen again,” Chief Stillman said.

The chief points out that extra cameras are going up, and July 4th crowds will be watched by a lot of extra officers in uniform and undercover. Officers from Cleveland police will help too, and so will Cuyahoga County sheriff’s deputies.

“We have to do everything possible to make sure that everybody who comes down here feels safe, and they should,” the chief said.

The new video also shows officers collecting evidence at the scene. Preliminarily, investigators believe the shooting involved people who knew each other.

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Still, some folks we met at the park midday on Friday do not plan to come on July 4.

“My family will not be coming down here,” one woman said.

“It’s unfortunate, but I don’t think I would come down here for the Fourth,” another said.

We took a closer look at a 48-page police report. Incredibly, the shooting left only one person hurt, grazed by a bullet.

However, police collected dozens of shell casings from shots fired. At least 16 people pulled guns, and some involved hid their faces with masks.

“Extremely disturbing for us,” Chief Stillman said. “There is no guarantee, but being vigilant, having a lot of personnel, a lot of uniformed policemen, is obviously a strong deterrent.”

The I-Team met a mother at the beach saying she still plans to come to Edgewater Park for the Fourth of July.

“Still coming. Got to enjoy this for the first time,” she said.

Police have been left to protect a huge holiday crowd days after chaos and gunfire. Metroparks police and Cuyahoga County prosecutors are working together trying to identify suspects.

If you have a tip, call CrimeStoppers at 216-252-7463. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the identification and arrest of those responsible.

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