By admin 
A child found live ammunition for a 9mm handgun at the Finlay Park playground Saturday evening, shortly before police evacuated the park and ended the Juneteenth festival being held there, according to police.
Read more Manhunt for accused gunman who shot teenager, South Carolina sheriff says
The 10th annual Juneteenth Freedom Fest had been going “perfectly smoothly all day,” when a series of incidents police believe could be related started to unfold Saturday night after 7 p.m., before the festival’s last scheduled concert of the night.
The events ended with multiple minors being detained after police broke up numerous fights amongst them that broke out across the park around 7:30 p.m. Columbia City Manager Teresa Wilson is calling it a teen takeover, a trend where teens plan large gatherings at public spaces, and which in some cases across the country have led to violence and vandalism.
Just before the ammunition was reported Saturday, police were also called about people being seen throwing bags into the park and jumping over the security fence, said Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook at a media briefing Monday afternoon.
The combination of incidents ultimately led the police and festival organizers to end the event early.
“Ammunition obviously is not something you’re carrying in your pocket like loose change, it’s intentional, and it’s usually in the company of a weapon,” Holbrook said.
Police did not find a weapon and there were no serious injuries reported Saturday.
Leaders stressed that there had been no issues at the Juneteenth festival prior to the evening’s “disturbances” and fights, and that the incidents shouldn’t blemish the festival.
This year was the festival’s largest, bringing thousands of people to Finlay Park, as well as small businesses, artisans, and performers.
“We will not allow the actions of a few people to define the thousands who came in peace, celebrated responsibly, and represented our community well,” said Jamal Bradley, founder and CEO of the annual Juneteenth festival, in a statement Monday.
Read more Deputy was fired and arrested, Richland County sheriff says. Here’s why
Ongoing investigation
Police are still reviewing security footage from Saturday to identify people involved, and have so far identified 12 to 15 juvenile “aggressors” who led the fights and disturbances Saturday, and more who stood nearby and watched or filmed the incidents, Holbrook said Monday.
Three minors and one adult were arrested Saturday night. Holbrook said the minors were released to their parents. One adult was “field booked” and released after police found five ounces of marijuana in his bag, because the arrest took place around the time the “disturbances” picked up, Holbrook said.
By the height of the night’s issues, 45 total police officers had been deployed to the park, many called in from other regions. Six of the officers were with the University of South Carolina Police Department.
When asked why shut down the event rather than arrest or remove those responsible and continue the concert, Holbrook said it was a clear decision given the number of people involved. Police had also found ammunition but no gun, increasing concerns.
“Can you imagine if we would not have taken decisive, appropriate measures if somebody would have pulled a gun and fired into a crowd of 7,000, 8,000 people, could have been disastrous,” Holbrook said.
He added that it takes at least two officers to make a physical arrest, and with the number of people involved it could have become too much to manage.
Wilson said teen takeover events won’t be permitted at Columbia parks, but especially not at Finlay Park, which she said also functions as a concert venue since its $25 million facelift. The city has since instituted a permanent, daily policy banning unaccompanied minors at the park after 5 p.m. The park is open until 9 p.m. daily.
“The amount of investment… that went into standing this park up, there’s no way it’s going to be threatened by foolishness and wrong behaviors,” Wilson said.
Read more Family hasn’t heard from missing South Carolina woman in over a week