Butler residents near gunfire at Kennywood
PITTSBURGH — Kennywood Park remained closed Sunday after three people were injured in a shooting and others suffered what Allegheny County police described as “trample injuries” in their scramble to escape the chaos during the Saturday night opening of the park’s Phantom Fall Fest.
Shots rang out in front of the Musik Express ride near the Lost Kennywood area of the park about 10:50 p.m., the result of “an altercation” between two groups of young men, county police Superintendent Christopher Kearns said. During the fight, at least one person pulled out a gun, and two shots were fired, Kearns said.
Austin Mathew and his fiancee, Nikki Miller, of Butler were among Kennywood guests on their way out Saturday night when the shots rang out.
Miller, her sister and her sister’s boyfriend decided to jump on the Cosmic Chaos on their way out because the line was short, but Mathew stayed behind.
“Right before the ride started, that’s when we heard the gunshots,” Miller said. “We start running and then the gate to get out of the ride was locked and there were parents trying to get the gate open and there were so many little kids. We all had to jump over it.”
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