The traditional Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Concord, North Carolina, was interrupted Friday night by a shooting that left four people injured.

The incident occurred around 7:30 pm on Union Street, near Corbin Avenue, a few meters from where the event was being held, local police reported.

The major of Concord Police Department Chief Patrick Tierney explained at a press conference that the shooting occurred between two suspects who knew each other, sparking chaos among the families present.

An 18-year-old identified as one of the shooters

Authorities identified 18-year-old Nasir Ahmad Bostic as one of the alleged assailants. The young man suffered gunshot wounds during the exchange and was transported to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Police reported that he will face charges for several offenses, including assault with a deadly weapon, and that he will be served with an arrest warrant upon his release from the hospital.

Second shooter is a minor

The second suspect, identified only as a minor, was also shot and remains hospitalized in critical condition. According to authorities, he will face multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon. A third person involved, a 17-year-old, was arrested and charged with aiding and betting and inciting a riot, although he was not injured. Four injured taken to hospital. In total, four people with gunshot wounds were taken to nearby medical centers. Three are in critical condition and one is in stable condition, police said. Emergency crews—including the Concord Police Department, local firefighters, and Cabarrus County Medical Examiner—were already in the area due to the incident and were able to respond immediately. The Christmas parade will go ahead. Despite the attack, the city announced that the Christmas parade would continue as scheduled Saturday afternoon. Mayor Bill Dusch assured the community that it would not be intimidated: “We are a resilient community and we will not allow the senseless actions of a few to take away another tradition from us."The major added that security measures would be reinforced to ensure the safety of attendees. Concord, with a population of approximately 105,000, is located about 25 miles northeast of downtown Charlotte. Authorities are continuing to review recordings and interview witnesses to clarify what happened.