Muslims observe Ramadan for 30 days straight, and the celebration at a Philadelphia park to commemorate the conclusion of the month-long fast turned violent when rival “factions” started shooting at one another in spite of the large audience.

An estimated 1,000 people attended an Eid al-Fitr ceremony on Wednesday afternoon in and around West Philadelphia’s Clara Muhammad Square. People of all ages, including infants, set up tents as families enjoyed the lovely spring day together.

At around 2:30 p.m., there was a sudden altercation among attendees. The gunshots broke out when a few police officers were enforcing parking citations at a neighboring petrol station. The authorities estimated that they had fired thirty rounds, frightening the revelers.

One witness recounted, “I simply saw people just fleeing and terrified.” “Everyone shouting, people’s strollers toppling down, kids.”

“Like an elephant rush, everyone simply fled.”

The event apparently resulted in the injuries of four people in total. During the gunfight, Nhashon “Tawfiq” Richards, 22, took a bullet to the stomach. Although Richards is stable and cognizant, his father, Corey Taylor, stated that surgery is probably necessary.

There were also two teenage victims with gunshot wounds. One of the event’s attendees, an adolescent, came to the hospital with a handgunshot wound that was most likely sustained during the incident. His status is stable.

Then, a police officer shot a 15-year-old kid who was allegedly carrying a rifle in the shoulder and leg after the youngster disregarded two orders to surrender his weapon. The officer shot the youngster, but before she could get him into her police vehicle, she grabbed him and took him to the hospital. His condition is presently stable, and there have been reports that his weapon has been located. In the interim, while the shooting inquiry is ongoing, the officer has been put on administrative leave.

Finally, a police car unintentionally struck a 15-year-old girl who was attempting to flee the scene, breaking her leg. According to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, the department has prayed for the girl’s ongoing recovery and plans to meet with her family shortly.

Thank goodness there were no casualties despite the volume of gunfire and the ensuing confusion.

Police Commissioner Bethel expresses gratitude that there were not more casualties but expresses frustration that “two groups” who were “beefing and going at one another” marred a joyous occasion that was mostly attended by “nice individuals who wanted to have a good time.”

He asserted, “We have young kids shooting at us again, and they totally damaged the sacredness of what happened.”

The father of Tawfiq Richards, the victim of the shooting, Corey Taylor, also denounced the needless bloodshed. “Stop hating one another over what someone else received or detesting over a female or any form of gang association or whatever,” he asserted.

“That is foolish. And it is absurd,” Taylor went on. “Lives are precious things.” Honor and cherish your life.”

In relation to the incident, police detained five people in all, including the 15-year-old who was reportedly in possession of the firearm. They tried to flee the location but were stopped by one female and four other men. The police seized four firearms.

The information Bethel released at the news conference is preliminary and might “change,” he warned. There is still an investigation into the situation.