A night meant for festive celebration turned into a scene of fear and confusion Friday after gunfire erupted during Concord’s annual Christmas tree lighting in the heart of downtown. The incident prompted an immediate shelter-in-place order as police rushed to secure the area.
The shooting occurred just as crowds had gathered to mark the start of the holiday season. Families, children, and local residents who had come out for the beloved tradition were sent scrambling for safety when shots rang out.
Police and emergency responders arrived within minutes, quickly moving through the downtown streets to assess the situation and guide people to cover. Officers instructed nearby residents and businesses to remain indoors with doors locked until they could determine whether the threat had been contained.
Authorities have not yet released information regarding possible victims, suspects, or what may have led to the shooting. The shelter-in-place order was lifted after officers completed an initial sweep, though the area remained heavily monitored as the investigation continued.
City officials expressed deep concern and thanked first responders for their swift action in what they described as an unsettling and deeply unfortunate interruption to a cherished community event.
The Concord Police Department is urging anyone with information or video from the scene to come forward as detectives work to piece together what happened.
This is an active investigation, and officials say further updates will be provided as more details emerge.