Suspect killed, 22 injured in shooting at New Jersey arts festival, authorities say

NEW YORK, June 18 (APP):A suspected gunman was shot dead and 22 people were injured on Sunday after a dispute among rival gangs erupted into gunfire at an all-night arts festival in Trenton in the US state of New Jersey, police said.
Police say at least two men opened fire as 1,000 people were enjoying the local art, music and food.
One of the shooting victims was a 13-year-old boy who was in extremely critical condition, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri told a news conference. Three others were in critical condition.
At least two people opened fire around at the annual Art All Night event in Trenton, about 100 km southwest of New York City.
The dead suspect was a 33-year-old man, and another suspect was in police custody, Onofri said.
Of the 22 people injured, 17 people of them were shot, Onofri said, and multiple weapons were recovered from the scene.
Officials believe the suspect was killed by police, and the case was being treated as an officer-involved shooting, Onofri said.
More than 1,000 people were believed to have been at the festival when the violence started.
“It absolutely could have been worse, given the confined space and the number of shots that appear to have been fired,” Onofri said.
“The shooting appears to be related to several neighborhood gangs from here in the city of Trenton having a dispute at the venue,” Onofri said.
Organizers canceled the remainder of the event, billed as, 24 hours of community, creativity and inspiration.
The New Jersey shooting occurred amid a debate about U.S. gun laws that was given fresh impetus by the massacre in February of 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida.
“It is a fact that our cities as well as our suburbs throughout America are experiencing an increase in public shootings and public unrest such as this,” Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson told the news conference. “This isnt just a random act of violence. This is a public health issue.”