Chaos erupted at Jack Smith Park on the evening of July 2nd when a fight among young individuals turned alarming with the discharge of a firearm, authorities said. The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department reported that deputies responded to the incident at approximately 8:20 p.m. and during the melee, 18-year-old Byron Vanderzanden allegedly fired shots into the air, thankfully without causing injuries or property damage, as reported by the Colorado River Sheriffs Department.
The park, usually a place for leisure, became a scene of concern for residents of Needles, CA, especially given the involvement of firearms in what might have been an otherwise everyday argument among teens. The deputies identified Vanderzanden along with John Rubalcalva and Matthew Riley as the parties engaged in the dispute, however, the details of the confrontation and what prompted Vanderzanden to fire the gun remain unclear as the investigation is ongoing, and the identity of the victim(s) remains confidential, according to Colorado River Sheriffs Department.
Authorities are now asking for the public's assistance in piecing together what transpired that Tuesday night, inviting those with information to step forward and contact Deputy C. Mestas or Detective J. Gregory at the Colorado River Station with any relevant details or reach out anonymously through the We-Tip Hotline.
