Video shows people running away as shots were fired during the fireworks finale of the waterfront concert in Camden, New Jersey, on July 4th. A 6-year-old was struck during the shooting, which a county commissioner said was carried out by a "thug" from across the river in Philadelphia.
The shooting took place on Mickle Boulevard near Wiggins Park as the fireworks show took place around 10:10 p.m. Tuesday over the Delaware River, Camden County police said.
Two groups encountered each other during the fireworks and at least one of them began shooting at another group, police said. A young girl was caught in the middle of it.
The 6-year-old -- who wasn't with either group -- was shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries to her knee, police said. The girl was expected to be released from the hospital on Wednesday, PIO Dan Keashen told NBC10.
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Three other people -- who weren't shot -- were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, Keashen said.
Police called the shooting an isolated incident and said people shouldn't worry about attending future events on the waterfront. Camden County Commissioner Louis Cappelli, Jr. said nothing like this had ever happened during July 4th celebrations.
Video of the fireworks show -- which went off around 10 p.m. after the earlier UB40 concert was delayed by stormy weather -- shared with NBC10 shows people running along the waterfront.
However, county officials said there was no widespread melee as most of the public was watching the shooting from the park and left the park in an orderly manner.
Originally three people were detained, police said. A teenager from Philadelphia is believed to have been the shooter. At a Wednesday afternoon news conference, police said that unnamed teen had been released from custody.
A message to the 'thugs' of Philadelphia
Cappelli lumped the suspect in this case with other gun cases, claiming that 80% of guns confiscated in Camden come from out of state -- "usually across the river from Philadelphia or Pennsylvania."
"One of the suspects has a tie to Philadelphia," Cappelli said. "We just want to send a clear message to the thugs, and criminals, and gun-bearing freaks over in Philadelphia who live in a society of lawlessness: we don't want you here. Stay out of Camden, stay out of Camden County, stay out of New Jersey. Keep your barbaric behavior in Philadelphia."
"To all you thugs and criminals in Philadelphia thinking that your lawlessness could be spread elsewhere: stay at home, stay out of Camden County," Cappelli added.
Police asked anyone with information or video of the shooting to contact them.
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