A chemical agent is believed to have been fired into the crowd at a Pride Parade event in Baltimore, causing a stampede that injured several people.
Revelers at the Baltimore Pride Block Party reported Saturday around 8:37 PM that a chemical, possibly Mace or hairspray, was released into the crowd.
The chaos that followed led to the end of headliner Saucy Santana’s performance and the event was quickly shut down the This is reported by the Baltimore Banner.
Fireworks were also set off at the same location, near the event’s main stage at North Avenue and Charles Street, adding to the panic, police said.
Baltimore police have not yet determined what the chemical was or who was responsible for spreading it.
A Baltimore Pride event descended into chaos after a “chemical agent” was fired into the crowd
The incident led to the end of headliner Saucy Santana’s performance
Footage from the event showed attendees running to the exit and screaming as the chemical was thrown.
Police said that after the event was halted, firefighters “tended several injuries resulting from the mass exodus.”
No further information has been released about the number or severity of injuries.
However, a police spokesperson confirmed there was no information “to support this was a targeted attack.”
The event’s organizers, Pride Center of Maryland, said they understood the chemical was Mace caused by “a group of young people.”
“Today, our security forces are paying special attention to what Pride celebrants bring,” Cleo Manago, executive director of the nonprofit, told the Banner.
A witness to the event, Kate Bowers, added: ‘Suddenly people were shouting and running. It was like a bomb went off. The air was so thick.
The Pride Center of Maryland event was quickly shut down
Police confirmed there was no information ‘that would support this was a targeted attack’
‘People had to throw up. People poured water into each other’s eyes. There was a small child in a stroller.
“They poured water in the child’s eyes,” she added.
Bowers told the station that a low-flying police helicopter hovered over the crowd, blaring the message: “Remain calm, the situation is under control.”
‘I’m not sure I’ve fully processed it yet. It was so abrupt and drastic. Woke up this morning. The magnitude of what could have happened hit me,” she added.