Holly MatkinDumas, AR – One person was killed and at least 27 others, including young children, were wounded outside the Hood-Nic car show fundraiser on Saturday night.
Six children ranging in age from 19 months old to 11 years old were rushed to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in the wake of the incident, KARK reported.
Five of those juvenile victims have since been released.
The victim killed in the attack has been identified as 23-year-old Cameron Schaffer.
Additional wounded victims were transported to multiple other area hospitals, including Drew County Memorial, Jefferson Regional, Delta Regional, and UAMS, KARK reported.
Arkansas State Police (ASP) Colonel Bill Bryant said a total of 28 people were struck by gunfire after two suspects got into a gunfight outside the car show at approximately 6:50 p.m.
Police have apprehended one person connected to the shooting on unrelated charges, KARK reported.
A search for two additional suspects remained ongoing, Col. Bryant said.
Investigators said they do not believe the shooting was gang-related, KARK reported.
BREAKING: Dumas Police Chief confirms the number of people shot has gone up to 20 with one dead.
He says they are looking into the possibility of multiple shooters and have one person of interest already in custody #ARNews pic.twitter.com/TWYGAusypz
— Shelby Rose (@KATVShelby) March 20, 2022
They also did not believe the incident was an intended “mass shooting,” according to CNN.
Police said it does not appear Schaffer was one of the suspects involved in the shooting act itself.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and also with all the families and our shooting victims as a result of this incident,” Col. Bryant said.
The Dumas Hood-Nic car show is an annual fundraising event held to raise money for the community’s children, according to KATV.
VIDEO: This is 1-year old Angelo Ussery Jr. On of the 24 shooting victims from last nights shooting in Dumas.
His father says he has a hole in his leg the size of a quarter but he’s going to be okay. He’s currently in surgery. pic.twitter.com/8NCTBHRHUH
— Jade Jackson (@IAMJADEJACKSON) March 20, 2022
The event’s coordinator, Wallace McGehee, said he is devastated by the attack and expressed condolences to the families of the victims and to the community.
“For something like this to happen, it’s a tragedy,” McGehee told KATV. “We did this here for 16 years without a problem.”
BREAKING: Wallace McGehee, the car show organizer, has addressed tonight’s shooting that left at least 10 people injured in Dumas, Arkansas.
“We apologize for all of this to happen. This has never happened with us in our event ever.” #ARNews pic.twitter.com/CGeba2s3qh
— Shelby Rose (@KATVShelby) March 20, 2022
The Hood-Nic Foundation said in a Facebook post on Saturday night that it was “heartbroken” over the turn of events.
“The purpose of Hood-Nic has always been to bring the community together,” the post read. “This senseless violence needs to end. Sending our prayers.”
Col. Bryant described the incident as “shocking,” CNN reported.
“We have a small community, a farming community in Dumas of 5,000 people and then we have an incident of multi-victims,” he said. “You don’t expect that from small town Arkansas.”
“The shooting spree in Dumas last night at a community family event represents a total disregard of the value of life,” Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson tweeted on Sunday. “We have at least 20 shooting victims and at least 18 who have been hospitalized. Several children have been sent to the hospital as well.”
“As the investigation continues, I will examine details to see if there are any steps that could have been taken to prevent this type of tragedy,” Hutchinson added.
