MLB world reacts to Oakland A’s gun violence incident

Four people in attendance for Monday’s game at RingCentral Coliseum between the Oakland A’s and Toronto Blue Jays were struck by bullet fragments during the post-game Fourth of July fireworks show.

Thankfully, none of them were seriously injured, but this incident of gun violence, one of many on America’s birthday, raised concerns about the safety of fans.

The A’s and the Oakland Police Department released a joint statement on Tuesday.

“Following last night’s Oakland A’s postgame fireworks show, officers were notified of a possible shooting victim inside the ballpark. During the preliminary investigation, officers located three fans struck by bullet fragments from what appears to be celebratory gunfire occurring throughout the city of Oakland. A fourth victim later walked into a local hospital. All four victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries.”

Per the San Francisco Chronicle, the “celebratory gunfire” appears to have come from outside of the ballpark. An investigation into the shooting is now ongoing.

In the meantime, the news of another gun violence incident on the Fourth of July as well as within the sports world had a lot of people around the Major League Baseball world reacting to the news. Some commented on how it is part of a larger discussion on gun violence while others noted the impact it could have on ongoing new stadium discussions.

‘Celebratory gunfire’ should not be a thing. This is terrifying. It feels like nowhere is safe in the US from guns. https://t.co/RBC6iwHC3W

— Ruth Kapelus (@RuthKapelus) July 5, 2022

If you’re looking to sports to distract you from the violent issues concerning our country, good luck trying.

[Oakland A’s]