CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Division of Police held a news conference Monday afternoon to provide an update after several people were shot amid reports of illegal drag racing over the weekend.
Watch the news conference in the player below:
According to police, officers responded to the area of Lee Road and Harvard Avenue on Sunday just after midnight to investigate numerous cars involved in drag racing.
Watch more about it below:
RELATED: 'Several people shot' in Lee Harvard area after reports of drag racing
While on the way to the location, officers received calls for shots fired nearby. Police said that seven people were injured and treated at nearby hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries:
- Three 18-year-old women
- Two 18-year-old men
- One 19-year-old man
- One 19-year-old woman
Cleveland Police Deputy Chief Jarod Schlacht said five guns were recovered and two vehicles were towed from the scene.
At this time, it's too early to determine how people fired guns. Police are working to determine if it was one individual or several who fired shots.
Shaker Heights Police Department later stopped a vehicle with three people inside, Cleveland Police said. Authorities confirmed that the car and the three people were present at the scene of the shooting.
The driver, a 21-year-old man, was arrested for improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, police said. Three guns were found in the car.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb released the following statement:
“Although, fortunately, no one was killed, we must continue to denounce senseless acts of gun violence like this. Public safety is this Administration’s top priority. We will continue to do everything we possibly can and advocate that others step up as well — reach out to youth in your neighborhoods, offer your support, and encourage them to get involved in the various programs the City and our partners offer. Our community is safer when we work together and uplift one another.”
