Harrisburg Mayor, Hurt in July 4th Incident, Considers Ending Annual Fireworks Show

The 12 minutes of abbreviated fireworks that showered over the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg Thursday could be the last July Fourth display in the city.

Mayor Wanda Williams, whose leg was injured as an armed 18-year-old fled police, and police Commissioner Tom Carter, said at a news conference Friday that no decision on fireworks for next year has been made.

Carter said that decision will have to await his department’s further study on how to better secure the RiverFront Park event that attracts thousands of people – which on Thursday included some juveniles and older teens packing guns.

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One measure Carter seemed to rule out was police using metal detectors as people entered the park for the event. He said there were too many access points into the park along Front Street for this to be workable.

The only one injured in Thursday night’s incident was the mayor, herself. {snip}

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The commissioner said Williams was in the mayor’s tent holding a child when an 18-year-old armed suspect fleeing police ran through the tent, knocking Willams and the child down and trampling her. The suspect then ran out on the Walnut Street bridge and threw the gun into the river before being apprehended.

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A second suspect, whom Carter described as a juvenile but did not give his age, was arrested with a Glock that had been modified to fire as an automatic weapon with a clip holding 20-plus rounds of ammo. The suspect was being held but there was no word on charges.

A second juvenile was detained because he was found to be carrying a pellet gun stuffed into the front of his pants. He was released to his parents, Carter said.

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But as the show unfolded, there were reports coming in about at least three people with firearms in the crowd. In addition, other people began lighting off firecrackers that Williams said were intended to mimic the sounds of guns “popping off” to “scare people to death.”

Because of all of this, Carter recommended to Williams to halt the $22,000 fireworks show right before the grand finale was about to begin at 9:27 p.m.

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