Bolivar mayor speaks out on weekend shooting that left two injured

BOLIVAR, Tenn. — A shooting that happened over the weekend left two with apparent gunshot wounds at a party in Bolivar.

According to a statement from Mayor of Bolivar, Julian McTizic, several days ago the Bolivar Police Department was made aware of a party hosted by a resident of the city.

He says, Bolivar Police Chief, Michael Jones, enlisted the help of additional officers for the evening of the party.

Around 11 p.m., officers near the area of the party, responded to a report of shots fired.

Two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds were transported to the Bolivar General Hospital by private vehicle.

One of the victims was transported to Regional One in Memphis.

Both the victims’ injuries were determined to be non-life threatening.

Mayor McTizic said minor injuries unrelated to the gunfire were also reported by attendees of the party in the aftermath.

According to the statement, two persons of interest were arrested in Haywood County on unrelated weapons charges following the shooting. The mayor says, “Bearing in mind that all evidence has not been fully processed at this time, additional charges related to this incident may be forthcoming against these two individuals and others upon completion of the investigation.”

Due to charges related to the shooting having not yet been connected to the individuals, they have chose not to release their names.

In the release, Mayor McTizic dispels rumors circulating around this event. He says a police vehicle pursuit on Highway 18 was unrelated to the shooting regardless of social media posts.

In the statement, Mayor McTizic also defended the host of the party from blame of the shooting. He said “While it is inherent in human nature to place blame, it is imperative to place blame where blame is due. Blame rightfully and squarely belongs to the persons who acted with reckless abandon and disregard for the value of human life when they purposely brought weapons into our city to a birthday party and chose to discharge those weapons into a crowd of people.”

Mayor McTizic added in an effort to help the victims of the shooting, they are partnering with Quinco Mental Health Center to provide free counseling services.

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