The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival returned Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. after shots were fired in the area Saturday night, evacuating the festival.
Authorities sent guests and staff home early Saturday night after reports of multiple gunshots near Dogwood Festival Park.
“We were at the Dogwood Festival and had some cheesecake and ice cream at the sweet palate downtown,” said Fon Dockery, describing his evening out with his family.
“We were walking back, actually in the parking lot of the library, walking past the food vendors and approaching the festival park area when we heard gunshots ring out in the echo of the crowd,” he said.
Around 8:30 p.m., officers responded to reports of shots fired on Maiden Lane, just outside of the festival’s grounds.
According to Fayetteville police, no one was injured, but officials suspended the festival at 9 p.m. as a precaution.
“I was more traumatized and shocked that again, we’re in the situation where shots are fired in Fayetteville again. So I think I was more angered that we were in this situation again,” added Dockery.
This incident is the latest in violent incidents at public events in the city. Last month, someone shot a 12-year-old girl at a carnival.
Following the shooting near the festival Saturday night, there was also a second shooting reported near Rowan and Ramsey streets.
“There was mass panic. My wife and daughter took off. My wife grabbed my daughter’s hand. She took off running. The people that were with me took off running. We split off to the side, and just people running everywhere and trying to get away from the sound of gunshots,” Dockery described.
Unfortunately, this traumatic experience is no stranger to the Dockery family. In 2023, he lost his 8-year-old daughter, Jensis, in a shooting WRAL has covered extensively.
As he continues to fight for stricter gun legislation in her honor, he’s forced to have more difficult conversations with his only daughter left.
“She told us how afraid she was; my wife actually had an anxiety attack,” Dockery said.
He said they have therapy scheduled for Monday, following the incident.
“She’s seven. She doesn’t know how to really express it, other than saying she’s afraid, but her nervousness, her clammy feel, and the retreat back into her shell showed just how that trauma was affecting her. It’s super unfortunate that I have to continue to witness my daughter be traumatized by the improper misuse of firearms in our state,” he added.
Fayetteville police officers were seen canvassing the festival Sunday afternoon. Many attendees told WRAL News they felt safe. Others expressed heightened fear over attending larger-scale events in the city.
In response to whether the event would continue on Sunday, organizers said
“The show will go on, and we cannot wait to see all your smiling faces and continue the mission of our community coming together in the most beautiful way,” in an online statement.
“We will not let last night’s situation take away from all the hard work that has gone into planning and executing the 43rd Annual Dogwood Festival.“
There is no clear solution on how to address the gun violence the city is facing. Dockery believes the responsibility falls on everyone to keep the community safe.
“The reality is, everyone has a role and while we can stand around and point fingers at each other. As parents, as guardians, as caregivers, we have to take responsibility and accountability for raising our children, disciplining our children, directing our children and being attentive to our children,” he said.
“It angers me because of the trauma that I see with families, just trying to enjoy public events, just trying to spend time with the children, spend time in the community that has been built for us,” he added.
Police said they are still searching for the people responsible for the shooting, and asked anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers at 910-487-8477 or online.
