'A sad situation:' Witness shares account of Tulsa Juneteenth Festival shooting

A man attending the Tulsa Juneteenth Festival said people were having fun until shots were fired.

That witness says he attends Juneteenth every year, and this one was packed with people having fun.

He says it quickly turned into a scary night.

"It was terrible, it was a sad situation for all," said Terry Baccus.

Juneteenth is a special time for him. Baccus has attended celebrations for it in Tulsa for 50 years.

The memory from this year's event is one he never expected.

"They were putting people on the gurney, " he said. "I saw them putting several people. I said those people are alive, at least right now, anyway."

Baccus says people were running all over the place to get away from the gunfire. He was there with his daughter and is glad they are both okay.

"I mean, at the time, you could say it was chaotic, but it really was different," he said.

The Greenwood District means a lot to Baccus. He gives tours to people who have never been here to explain the history and significance of the area.

Though the investigation into the shooting continues, Baccus believes this area and the celebration will make a big comeback.

"It's going to be greater than ever before, Juneteenth, right? You can't get down, you can't let it stop what's for us be for us," he said. "It's going to be greater than ever before."

Baccus says there needs to be a grieving time for everyone affected by the shooting but thinks the community will come together to get through it.