The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about a disturbance at a Father’s Day gathering on Sunday in Royal.
Multiple altercations occurred causing large crowds to disperse at a fast pace, people were running over tents, table and pushing and trampling people to get out of the way, according to the sheriff’s office. Several attendees were injured, including two children who were burned from hot cooking oil that was knocked over.
Deputies became aware of a disturbance where a woman brandished a firearm at individuals attending the event and in the presence of at least one child. The violent outbreak led the sheriff’s office to shut down the event earlier than anticipated.
Detectives obtained a video depicting a large group running followed by a woman brandishing a firearm in the presence of a child.
The video depicts the two males fighting; when a female (in a multicolor outfit) crouches down to retrieve what looked to be a firearm from possibly her fanny pack. A male wearing a white shirt and gold in color shorts, a female in a white shirt and black shorts and a female wearing a red and black tank top and shorts appear to attempt to break up the fight. The female in the multicolor outfit, now armed with a firearm, points it at the black male wearing the chain and black shorts.
“We are especially concerned that this firearm was displayed so recklessly in the presence of so many people, especially within 10 yards of a child,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
If you have any information about this case or are able to identify the involved parties, contact Det. Hector Otero at (352) 793-2621 or to remain anonymous call 1-800- 423-TIPS (8477).
