Africville community members 'furious' after five shot during annual reunion

Former residents and descendants of those who grew up in the historic Black community of Africville are incensed after five people were shot on Saturday during the community's annual reunion in Halifax.

"I'm furious. I'm hurt. I'm sad. I'm upset … In 40 years we've never had a problem and last night here was like a war zone," said Paula Grant-Smith, who lived in the community until she was 15 years old, and was camping with family and friends Saturday night at Africville Park. 

This weekend marked the 41st annual Africville Family Reunion, which aims to bring together former residents and their descendants. The community was uprooted in the 1960s when the City of Halifax demolished homes in the neighbourhood and residents were displaced. 

Halifax Regional Police said Sunday that five people in attendance were shot Saturday night when two men exchanged gunfire and the bullets went into the crowd.

One victim, in their late teens, is believed to have life-threatening injuries while the other four, all in their 20s, were also sent to hospital with injuries, police said.

In an interview with CBC News,  Const. John MacLeod said both men involved in the shooting had left the area by the time officers arrived.

"We can understand why the public would be concerned over an incident like this, as we are as well, but we want to assure the public that we've got every effort going into this investigation, and looking into determining exactly what happened last night, and certainly locate the individuals responsible," he said.

Violence unacceptable

For Grant-Smith, the violence is simply unacceptable. 

"You want to have a war, you take it somewhere else," she said on Sunday. "This is something we're not used to and it's got to stop." 

The reunion is a family event and many children were present, said Grant-Smith, including her own grandson and some of her nieces and nephews.

"My husband and I ran towards the bullets because our family was there," she said. "I am traumatized. You can imagine what the kids were like, they were hiding in any spot they could find." 

Police said they were called to the scene following reports of a shooting at around 10 p.m. Saturday.

"We heard a whole bunch of shots rapidly and it sounded like fireworks," said Victor Sampson-Carvery, who was also camping Saturday night.

He comes to the reunion each year to remember his father, who grew up in the community.

"We come here to honour our families, to celebrate. It's a very historic place," he said. "These kids come with the violence, they should leave it somewhere else. It doesn't belong here." 

After the shooting, organizers cancelled all remaining events planned for the reunion.

But while some of those remaining at the park were packing up on Sunday, Grant-Smith said she was standing her ground. 

"I am not leaving. I will leave tomorrow when I was supposed to leave. I am going to be here with my family today, and we're going to heal just by sitting, relaxing and having our dinners that we planned on having today," she said. "You're not running me out of this park."

Sampson-Carvery said he expects the annual reunion to return next year, no matter what.

"Africville will go on because we're coming back next year," he said. "We'll call it an aberration … I'll be here with my family and my father's spirit." 

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