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“It is no longer a celebration when you have people getting shot” Milwaukee Police Captain Michael Young.

For those of you who missed the launch of the summer festivals, RiverSplash, consider yourself rather lucky. Not that I was shot at personally but it was a disturbing situation. By the time I got to Splash it was absolutely chaotic. Unlike Friday night, there had to be double the number of people and it was not a good situation to be had. I and fellow gop3-er Brian Collar were smart enough to get out of there by the time we saw the undermanned security trying to break up one of the countless fights. I am still baffled at what would attract so many people to RiverSplash. It couldn’t have been the bars because they weren’t in there, they were all outside fighting and shooting each other. The Journal has been trying to piece together some of last night’s events.

Allan Laird, who said that as a Milwaukee Public Schools teacher he is not easily intimidated, told how he, a woman friend and their two teenage children feared for their safety as they tried to leave the festival about 11:15 p.m.

“My son said, ‘We should get out of here, someone might have a gun,’” Laird recalled.

About 25 minutes later, according to Milwaukee police, multiple arguments broke out among crowds of people N. 3rd St. and W. Highland Ave. and an 18-year-old man was shot in the foot.

As his group walked north and west of the area, Laird said, he saw groups of males “play fighting” and some males trying to pull females out of cars that were stalled in traffic. Laird said one male tried to scare him by swinging a fist over his head.

That just screams class doesn’t it? In fact I think it’s real important to attract more of this type of crowd.

Police described a chaotic scene shortly after the festival closed at 11:30 p.m. The streets were filled with people who were “drunk and scared,” Milwaukee police Captain Michael Young said.

Young said he did not have figures of the number of arrests made, but that numerous arrests involving disorderly conduct were made.

Marsha Sehler, a spokeswoman for RiverSplash, said the shooting and bottle throwing are a concern, but they should not be a black mark on an event that has generally been very safe.

Yeah Marsha, there is absolutely no crisis. The event is generally safe, minus the countless arrests, out of control fights, bottle throwing, drunken rowdiness, SHOOTINGS, and how many other crimes will go unreported. Yeah I felt really safe. I guess it shows that people like Marsha don’t actually attend their own events. Or the leave at 7pm before stuff gets out of hand.

RiverSplash spokes people remarked later “What? The guy can’t take a gunshot in the foot?” That’s generally safe part of the body to take a bullet.”

Ald. Robert Bauman, who represents the area, called the incidents “extremely disturbing” because RiverSplash has been so safe in the past. He said the city would review what happened to see if any changes should be made at RiverSplash or at other festivals that will be held this summer.

“We’re going to retrace our steps to make sure nothing’s been overlooked and that security is as strong as possible,” Bauman said

Thanks Bob!

I would not disagree with figuring out a way to charge people to get in. That would keep the crowd a bit smaller. Eliminating the event should always be on the table after what happened last night. I will say this though, I commend all the bars for having a stringent carding policy. And especially to the bouncer at McGillycuddys for realizing that a girl born in 1984 is not 22.

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