Orlando police said about 12 people were injured while running from the terror, which happened shortly after the fireworks began around 9:45 p.m. Monday. [WATCH LIVE: News 6 team coverage | TRENDING: Become a News 6 Insider] Some witnesses said they heard what they thought were gunshots. However, police said there was no evidence of a shooting. “Out of nowhere we saw people running and then we heard (what we thought were) gunshots. We heard it. He didn’t line up with the fireworks. It was obviously something else,” the witness said. one D “People were jumping into the water, people were running towards the buildings,” said one woman. OPD Chief Deputy Eric Smith says the department does not believe there was an active gunman at the Lake Eola Fourth of July fireworks celebration where a crowd was seen fleeing. Orlando police later tweeted that there was no shooting and no risk to public safety. “We believe it was fireworks going off in the crowd at the same time the main fireworks display was going on,” Chief Deputy Eric Smith told News 6. “That’s what sent people running. They believed there were shots fired. Of course, people started running with everything that was going on.” During the chaos, some families were separated. Police said a family reunification area has been set up at North Rosalind Avenue and East Robinson Street. Downtown Orlando Update: Hearing that someone threw fireworks behind a group of people during the fireworks celebration, causing panic and people scattered everywhere. The area is secured by law enforcement, but there are no reports of gun violence at this time. We will share more. – Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@nAnnaForFlorida) July 5, 2022 According to police, a lost and found area has been set up at the Lake Eola Parks Office at North Eola Drive and East Washington Street. The terror in Orlando came hours after six people were shot dead at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago. A person of interest was later arrested. one D [SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING] 🚨IMPORTANT MESSAGE: To our community members now in downtown Orlando, please know that there are NO reports of a shooting in the area. Our officers are now working to secure the area. There is NO threat to public safety at this time. — Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) July 5, 2022 [SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING] 📢FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES! If you are separated, you can go to the designated family reunification area at N. Rosalind Ave & E. Robinson St. Spread the word. — Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) July 5, 2022 OPD tweeted at 11:32 p.m. that all families at the family reunification center were able to be reunited. UPDATE: We are pleased to announce that all families at the Family Reunification Center at Rosalind & Robinson have been reunited! ** LOST & FOUND AREA has been moved to the Lake Eola Parks Office on N. Eola Dr. & E. Washington St. Thank you for sharing! — Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) July 5, 2022 Police said they believe the incident may have started near Pine Street or at the complex, although the investigation is still in its early stages. Smith added that police and fire crews are focused on locating and treating anyone who may have been injured during the panic. Check back with News 6 for updates. Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All Rights Reserved.
