Bucks scrap watch party

MILWAUKEE • The Milwaukee Bucks cancelled a Game 7 watch party that had been set to be held at their Fiserv Forum outdoor plaza yesterday, after 20 people were wounded in shootings outside the arena on Friday.

In a statement on Saturday, the Bucks called the shootings "horrific," adding that the team condemned "this devastating violence".

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, citing law enforcement sources, said none of those hurt appeared to face life-threatening injuries.

"We are grateful to local law enforcement for its valiant efforts to try to contain what was a dangerous and fluid situation," the Bucks said. "While these incidents took place outside of Deer District property, it clearly resonated with fans coming out of the arena and leaving the plaza.

"Security, health and welfare are always our top priorities for our guests and employees and we appreciate the hard work of our security team to keep our fans safe.

"In order to allow law enforcement to devote needed resources to the continued investigation of last night's events, we have decided to cancel tomorrow's planned watch party on the plaza."

The team added businesses in the Deer District, a neighbourhood near the stadium that draws thousands of fans to bars and entertainment venues during and after games, would remain open.

However, the decisive Game 7 of the team's Eastern Conference semi-final series against the Celtics in Boston will not be shown on a big screen outside the arena.

On Friday, some 11,000 people were in the area for such a watch party, and the first shooting came near the packed district shortly after the Bucks fell to the Celtics in Game 6 inside the arena.

Police said the victims included two men, aged 26 and 29, and a 16-year-old girl, but all three are expected to survive their injuries. "There was a 19-year-old male taken into custody in connection with this incident," Milwaukee Police captain Warren Allen told CNN.

Some two hours later, another 17 people were wounded in another shooting several blocks away, with Allen saying the victims ranged in age from 15 to 47.

Police arrested a total of 10 people in connection with the second incident and recovered nine firearms, local television station WTMJ-TV reported. Authorities did not immediately address what sparked the incidents and whether they were linked.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE