A person was taken to a hospital Wednesday with non-life-threatening injuries after a shots-fired call near Coolidge Park.
The park was closed as the Chattanooga Police Department investigated the incident, police spokesperson Elisa Myzal said by email.
“The park is secured as an active crime scene and will remain closed until the investigation is complete,” she said. “There is currently no estimated timeline for reopening.”
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One pane of glass on the building surrounding the carousel at the park was shattered with what appeared to be a bullet hole, seen by Chattanooga Times Free Press journalists at the scene.
Person hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after shots fired call at Coolidge Park
A call logged as “person shot” came in at 2:20 p.m. to the Hamilton County 911 active incidents log.
Bruce Weiss, owner of the River Street Deli across from the park, said he was inside the deli when the incident happened.
“A customer came in. They heard shots,” Weiss said by phone. “I got to tell you, Chattanooga police, man, within seconds I heard sirens.”
Weiss’ deli has been at that location for 30 years, since before the park was built, he said.
“I’m just disappointed that this is what it’s come to. Thank God it doesn’t happen a tremendous amount,” Weiss said. “Coolidge Park has always been, you know, a real nice and safe place.”
A family of about 20 people waited outside Erlanger hospital in downtown Chattanooga as police officers told a reporter to stay across the street.
Another business owner near the park told the Times Free Press that people were seen running after shots rang out Wednesday afternoon.
Two teenagers were arrested in March in relation to a shooting at Coolidge. No injuries were reported in that incident.
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Contact breaking news reporter Kailee Shores at kshores@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.