A concert headlined by rap artist Wacka Flocka Flames, government name Joaqin Mulphers had just ended as an unidentified gunman or gunmen opened fire on about 200 teenagers waiting in the Commons shopping center parking lot for rides. Eight teenage boys, ages 14 to 18, suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, according to Gary Police Cpl. Gabrielle King.
King said Saturday "all chaos broke loose" when a fight erupted during the event. Security workers ordered attendees to leave the rink at 4415 W. 5th Ave.
As of Saturday night, no arrests had been made.
"All the kids scattered and got as low as they possibly could," said Sisson, who also serves as the head security guard for the business. "Our kids are kids. They're teenagers that came to a venue and saw a rapper perform and then went home. As far as I'm concerned, my kids have nothing to do with what was going on."
Security guards helped many of the wounded inside to wait for paramedics to arrive. Sisson spent the night going from hospital to hospital to check on the kids. He knew two of the boys.
World of Skates manager James Sisson was 7 feet away when a teenage boy screamed and dropped to the sidewalk outside the Gary roller skating rink late Friday night.
One of the teen's friends grabbed him to ease his fall when what was described as a normal day at the venue turned violent.
"I haven't been asleep yet. I just left the hospital at 5 a.m.," Sisson told the Post-Tribune on Saturday afternoon. "I let the parents know that the kids, in general, weren't doing anything illicit ... they were just being teenagers talking to girls, talking about the concert, and laughing and giggling."
The wounded were taken to Methodist Hospitals in Gary, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and Saint Margaret Mercy in Hammond.
One of the victims told police he was shot in the stomach by a black man holding a rifle. He said the man was wearing a red hat and had dreadlocks.
Another victim said he was with a group of friends and they were asked to leave to avoid a fight with a group he didn't know. He said members of the group confronted him in the parking lot and someone started shooting. The teen suffered a gunshot wound to his left leg and was taken to Saint Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center in Hammond.
Cmdr. Michael Mallett said a "hype man" entertained the crowd before Wacka Flocka took the stage, and he pitted "East Side" vs. "West Side" against each other. Mallett said that might have incited the incident.
"The kids have separated themselves into east and west sides," Mallet said. "They've been doing it for many years now, but it's gotten worse, especially when you have entertainers making references to East Side vs. West Side. The youth in our community have taken it to heart."
Sisson said security is strict to enter World of Skates. All entering patrons are searched for firearms, knives and other weapons. Certain types of combs aren't even allowed inside the venue because they could be used as weapons, Sisson said.
On Friday night, seven Gary police officers, along with seven security guards, were working the concert.
Police identified the wounded as: Shaquille Hughes, 15, shot in the right side; Marcus Ratliff, 14, shot in the right wrist; Justin Bodley, 16, shot in the leg; Junan Washington, 18, shot in left ankle; DaVonte Biddings, 16, shot once in the back; Marquel Croock, 16, shot in the stomach; Kesean Philon, 14, shot in the left leg; and Stephan Danzy, 17, shot in the left leg.
All events for patrons under the age of 21 have been canceled until further notice, according to a sign on the World of Skates door on Saturday. The skating rink shares an address with the adults-only Posh Ultra Lounge.
Gary Mayor Rudy Clay described a bar section that was separated by a wall but said it didn't necessarily stop kids from gaining access to alcohol.
"I ordered my police chief to definitely shut that place down for tonight," Clay said. "I don't know how long it'll stay down, but for tonight, we're shutting it down. It just doesn't make sense. It's not good to have teens out there and alcohol next door."
@ post tribune
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