Seven individuals were injured in a shooting early Saturday morning at a Caribbean festival in Boston, Massachusetts, according to local police.
The Boston Police Department stated that the shooting took place just before 8 a.m. local time. The seven victims were rushed to local hospitals and their injuries are said to be non-life-threatening. Police also reported that several weapons were confiscated during arrests.
The shooting occurred at an intersection where a parade associated with the Caribbean festival was passing by.
This incident adds to the growing concerns over gun violence in the United States. Currently, the number of privately owned firearms in the country surpasses the total population. One out of every three adults owns at least one firearm, and nearly one out of every two adults lives in a household with a weapon. The prevalence of firearms has significantly contributed to the rising death rate due to gun violence in the United States.
In a separate but related incident, two women were shot Friday evening in Chicago while attending a Major League Baseball game featuring the White Sox, according to local police.