2 Stabbed During Security Mall Carnival
BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- A spring carnival is supposed to attract families for fun. Instead, a Baltimore County fair turned into a violent fight among dozens of young people.
Kelly McPherson explains the changes the carnival is making now.
The carnival has been here for five years. For the first time, organizers are forced to put up a fence and increase security after two people were stabbed next to the ferris wheel.
Dozens of young men are beating up, stomping on and even stabbing each other in a YouTube video during the Security Mall carnival. The melee forced the family-friendly event to shut down Saturday night.
"It depends on the time of day. If you go kind of early, they take the little kids on the rides and then in the evening, it's just an outlet for the teenagers," said Sharon Alexander.
"From watching the video, it looked like they were actually throwing things and fighting all over the place and I saw the police came and maced everybody and that's just sad when you can't take your family out and enjoy a nice carnival," said Shedrick Williams.
In the end, two young men were stabbed and four arrested.
"At this time, our investigators are working on identifying suspects in the stabbing in this case," said Lt. Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police.
To stay in business, the carnival is enhancing security.
"This is the fifth year we have been here, never with any incident at all. Never had to have a fence before," said concessions manager David Furr.
"Jolly Shows" out of Annapolis runs this carnival and others across the state. Its spokesperson said that during the fight, they had four off-duty officers here and there will be more this weekend.
"We're looking for the types of patrons that are going to bring their children, have fun and we're going to try to make this as secure as possible for those types of patrons," said Furr.
Four young men were arrested for disorderly conduct, but no one has been charged with the stabbing. Investigators are still piecing together how the fight happened; they don't know what triggered the fight.
One victim has been released from Shock Trauma. The other is still in critical condition.
