Benton Harbor police break down Monday shooting at Jean Klock Park
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The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department confirms they broke up a group of juveniles who were reportedly playing loud music, dancing on cars and causing a disturbance at Silver Beach around 3:30 p.m. Monday. Deputies issued 19 total arrest citations and kicked the remaining juveniles out of the park.
According to the BHDPS, many of that same group migrated to Jean Klock Park, where the shooting began not long after.
Benton Harbor Director of Public Safety, Dan McGinnis, says all the teens involved were from Indiana, and were in the area on a “senior skip day” from South Bend and Mishawaka schools.
McGinnis condemned the violence and said that it shouldn’t be labeled as a “Benton Harbor issue” because it involved people who were visiting from Indiana.
He also confirmed the city hasn’t had any issues with violence for several weeks and that the timing is unfortunate, with Mayor Marcus Muhammad set to deliver the state of the city address Monday night.
McGinnis says he hopes the progress and positive strides the city is taking won’t be overshadowed by violence coming from out of state.
Benton Harbor police arrested two suspects they believe are connected to the shooting on several gun-related charges. The guns they found inside a vehicle at the scene were reported stolen and from Indiana.