Thread: Mexican rodeo says shooting mars family event

Organizers of Mexican rodeo say shooting mars family event
JACLYN O'MALLEY
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Posted: 5/16/2006

A day after gunfire erupted at a Mother's Day-themed Mexican rodeo in Sparks -- killing a horse and grazing one person -- organizers fear the incident could mar the traditional family event.

No arrests had been made as of Monday. It could not be confirmed whether the incident was gang-related, said Sparks police Commander Steve Asher.

Police said a man brought a gun from the parking lot after a fight broke out at the Gandolfo Sports Arena. Several people were injured, most of them in the fight. Authorities and event officials say it was lucky that no one in the crowd of about 2,000 was killed or severely injured by the random gunfire.

"We want to make it clear that the Mexican rodeo with its professional riders had nothing to do with (the shooting)," said event organizer Joe F. Salinas. "It was odd to look up and recognize gunshots and then looking at people, trying to make sure everyone was safe. Everyone was in fear of their lives.

"We don't want any (gang) stereotypes," he said. "This was a positive event until the shooting."

Just before 7 p.m. Sunday the event had started to wind down. The music had stopped. Professional charros, or Mexican cowboys, had led their horses out of the arena, where spectators began to gather. The nearly 2,000 people who packed the grandstands were walking back to their cars. Then the shooting started.

"People were panicked, crying and hiding behind buildings," Salinas said. "There was popping (of the gun). Moms were frightened and grabbed their children. There were a lot of children."

Salinas said police arrived quickly and many people were questioned. Cars were being checked until about 9:30 p.m.

Salinas and Jose Valencia, another official who saw the shooting, said the incident started when a group of young men challenged people laughing at a woman or girl who fell off a horse in the arena.

Police said the heckling led to a fight. Then a group of young men ripped off their T-shirts, exposing many tattoos, and ran to the parking lot, Salinas said. One man, 16 to 19 years old, came back with a gun and began shooting, apparently at someone, as he stood on a hillside rock, Valencia said.

"We're lucky no one got hurt," Valencia said. "I don't know why he had a gun. He didn't seem like he had been hurt in a fight. This kind of thing does ruin the event."

"It's one of those things you don't expect and you can't prevent," he said. "They'd have to be crazy to do something like this. It's just stupid."

The eight unarmed security guards at the event chased the group of young men who ran from the arena, he said. For future rodeos, Valencia said it's likely more security guards will be hired and possibly begin searching cars for weapons. Currently, guards had just been checking for alcohol in vehicles.

Sunday's jaripeo, Spanish for rodeo, was the first one this year, Salinas said. The Mexican rodeos have been held in the area since 2003, he said. Last year there were four. This year, three more have been scheduled.

"Everything had been perfect," said Sergio Morelos, president of the local Charros federation and shooting witness. "This sport is an opportunity to keep children out of gangs and to keep up with Mexican tradition. I feel so sorry that this was meant to be a very professional event for Mother's Day and now this. It's really sad."

Morelos, of Rancho Haven, and his wife, Mariam, said they were disappointed that "a beautiful family event" had to be ruined by violence.

"This is a tragedy," Mariam Morelos said. "This has really scared a lot of people. It's sad to say we should profile (gang members), but it's come to that extreme though. Next we'll have to search vehicles.

"This is not the image we want," she said. "This wasn't supposed to happen."

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic ... 60361/1002

One of our guys posted this last night also. He participates in the American kid's rodeo right after this one... in the same arena.

Said it's always disgusting......needles in the shoots, garbage everywhere...just a filthy mess.