Memorial Day picnic ends with gunfire

By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

GALLUP — Police investigated a reported shooting amongst a group of picnickers on Viro Circle over the Memorial Day weekend.

Deputy Police Chief John Allen, a spokesman for the Gallup Police Department, said two groups of people were involved in an argument at about 6:45 p.m., Sunday. He had no information about the number of people involved.

According to police, one person pulled out a small-caliber handgun and fired several shots into the ground. Many of those involved, including the suspect, then fled the scene before police arrived.

Allen said witnesses would not tell police what the argument that led to the shooting was about. Officers found no victims at the scene, and local hospital personnel did not report any treated injuries in connection with the incident.

In addition to the report of shots fired, local police responded to some 470 calls for assistance during the holiday weekend.

Allen said many of the calls involved domestic arguments, but no serious incidents were reported. State police and the sheriff’s department reported no major incidents.