HEWITT, Texas — The Hewitt Police Department said it was on scene at at shooting that happened at Hewitt Park the evening of June 23.
According to Hewitt police, the Waco Police Department was notified about the shooting after a call from the victim, who was already at Providence Hospital.
Once Hewitt police arrived on scene at the park, the suspect was gone, police said. Around 15 witnesses were still on scene, some of who recorded video of the incident and showed police. Police said witnesses saw the suspect fled in a small maroon four door vehicle.
Hewitt Police Chief Jim Devlin said the victim, identified as a 21-year-old man, was playing basketball with friends when the suspect arrived in a vehicle with two or three others. The suspect got out of the vehicle and started arguing with the victim.
The suspect then went back to the car and came back two or three minutes later with a long rifle, police said. The suspect confronted the victim again and struck him with the end of the rifle, leading to a fight, officials said.
Then, the victim began to run away when the suspect began shooting, hitting the victim in his lower extremities, police said.
Officials said the victim was shot at lease once.
The suspect is identified only as a man between 17 and 20, between 5' 8" and 6', wearing a dark jacket and facemask.
Chief Devlin said he doesn't believe the victim or the suspect are Hewitt residents. He also said he doesn't think the incident was random, but does not know the relationship between those involved right now.
Police said there is no danger to the public at this time.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Hewitt PD at 254-666-6272.