WATCH: Exclusive video of Senior Skip Day shooting in Greenbelt
GREENBELT, Md. - A student at Roosevelt High School captured the moment multiple shots were fired at a senior skip day gathering, injuring five boys.
The student told FOX 5 he was just documenting the day as more than 500 high schoolers were at Schrom Hill Park in Prince George’s County for a senior skip day water gun fight, an annual tradition for high school seniors.
In the video shot by Eleanor Roosevelt High School senior Chiagozie Ndubuisi-Oluavu and shared exclusively with FOX 5, at least seven gunshots are heard. As of this writing, the gunman has not been found.
"It sounded like a popping. It sounded like fireworks. So, I wasn’t like … seriously running, but you see everyone running," Ndubuisi-Oluavu told FOX 5 Monday. "I was in disbelief at first. As I was recording, I thought ‘Hey, maybe I’ll catch something’. The actual person wasn’t captured but even when I turned, I saw his face was masked up."
Ndubuisi-Oluavu said initially, he was recording just to capture the large crowd. The first location students met was in Bowie, where students had a water-gun fight.
"The show-out was a lot more than anyone expected. It was like multiple schools across P.G., but just a lot of people," he said. "It’s really sad. Like, we’re supposed to be coming out of the end of an era, but people are here trying to shoot up a place. For what reason? To what end?"
Eventually, the gathering moved to Schrom Hills Park. Fellow Roosevelt High School senior Rome Kpakima was also there.
"I had to push my friends off the table and duck under, so we could run. It was very frightening," Kpakima said.
Ndubuisi-Oluavu said the shooting was a big talker among students Monday when they returned to school.
"It makes me sad, but hopefully this makes people realize how valuable life is. And have smarter thoughts when going to events like this that are not as organized, to be careful of who they’re around," he said. "I was close to the shots, and it made me think like, ‘Wow…I was just down there a minute earlier. It could have been you who got hit.’ So, it definitely makes me want to be more careful moving forward."
Of the five teenage boys who were shot, three have been released from the hospital. Two remain in the hospital in stable condition, according to a Greenbelt police spokesperson.
Police are asking anyone with information or who has video of the incident to come forward.
Prince George's County Public School released the following statement:
Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) is saddened by the senseless act of violence that injured five students during a gathering at Schrom Hills Park in Greenbelt on April 19.
PGCPS does not sanction senior skip day activities for students.
The Greenbelt Police Department is asking that anyone with information, photos or video related to this event share it to assist with their investigation.
The safety and well-being of students remains our priority, and counseling and mental health support services are available to students and staff. Additional security and crisis team staff are on location at impacted schools this week.