Henrico fireworks event at Dorey Park marred by fighting
I didn’t see any posts about this yet, maybe someone else was there as well and can give another perspective / more info on what happened.
I attended the Henrico Fourth of July fireworks event last night (July 3rd) at Dorey Park. The event was well planned with easy parking, plenty of event staff to direct traffic, a lovely hot air balloon display, live music, food trucks, etc. Shoutout to the Rec and Parks team for organizing the event and handing out free ice cold water bottles and 4th of July stickers.
However unfortunately the event was marred by fighting and violence. I arrived at about 8:30 PM, my kids in tow, and walked around the event to scope out good spots for watching the fireworks, scheduled for 9:45 PM. Plenty of families there, lots of unsupervised minors walking around as well. I went with friends to watch fireworks too when I was in high school, so no big deal in my mind.
About 8:55 PM suddenly all of these minors start running toward the area with the hot air balloons, followed by police. Presumably some sort of fight or skirmish. I decide to head back to my car to cool off, get snacks, let the cops get everything under control and wait for the fireworks show at 9:45. At 9:10 PM they cut the music and the police chief gets up on stage, tells the troublemakers to knock it off, and threatens arrests if there’s any more disturbances. Says they’re just going to do the fireworks show now rather than at 9:45 PM.
Fireworks show begins, I’m standing in the parking area by my car, and within a minute I see all of these minors again running together in one direction over near the area they’re launching the fireworks. Here we go again, I’m thinking. Then I see what I can only describe as a crowd disbursing in panic (I assume due to threat of a firearm). People running in every direction trying to get away from the stage area. Terrifying, and I’m standing 100 yards away. I get my kids in the car and we head for the exit. They cut the fireworks and music off after maybe 3 minutes. While we’re waiting in line to leave the parking area someone gets on the mic and says event’s over and tells everyone to go home.
I read some comments elsewhere from others that there were more fights happening before I even got there. I know there was a fight here at Dorey Park a few weeks ago after the Juneteenth event. But I figured the county would get things under control this time given that they had advance warning of the possibility. I was planning to go to the event on the 4th too with the laser light show at Crump Park but now, forget about it. What a disgrace.