Hispanic parade ends with crowd chaos in Wilmington, Delaware

WILMINGTON, Del. (WPVI) -- Sunday afternoon started as a day of celebration, as thousands of people turned out for the Wilmington Hispanic Parade. However, after the fun-filled afternoon, things took a turn along the parade route on West 4th Street.

Police say they began receiving calls after 4 p.m. about criminal activity and disorderly conduct, including fights, as well as drunk and disorderly people with guns near DuPont and West 4th Streets.

Video showed a huge police response to disperse crowds amid the chaos.

Dozens of police vehicles descended as tensions escalated following the parade.

Witnesses told Action News the parade itself was peaceful, with the disturbance breaking out only after the event had ended.

"The guys were doing donuts or whatever, then next thing you know people just started throwing bottles at them and it was crazy, really crazy, it was terrible," said one witness.

"When the parade ends people go their separate ways, but cars hang out," said another witness.

As the night continued, police said they encountered a disorderly crowd, estimated to include 1,000 - 1,500 people, that refused to leave.

The Action Cam captured bottles being thrown at officers, prompting police to call for backup and disperse the crowd with gas.

Police said, at one point, multiple gunshots were fired.

Officers were able to disperse the crowd by 9 p.m., noting that no injuries were reported.

In a statement, parade organizers said they're working closely with law enforcement to find a safe path forward for local events.

"Our team at Nuestras Raíces is proud of the beautiful, family-friendly event we hosted, which was a true celebration of our culture. We were saddened to learn of the public safety issues that took place well after the official event concluded and our team had departed," organizers said.

The vibrant celebration of culture marks the kickoff to National Hispanic Heritage Month. The parade draws thousands of spectators and community organizations to celebrate the contributions of Hispanics across Delaware.

Police said they are actively investigating the incident and are working to identify suspects.

Anyone with information about subjects involved in criminal activity is encouraged to contact Senior Corporal Keith Johnson at (302) 571-4415 or Keith.Johnson@cj.state.de.us.