Pride Event Injuries After ‘Possible Chemical Agent’ Released: Police

Several people were injured Saturday evening after a “large crowd” of attendees fled a Baltimore Pride event where a “possible chemical agent was released into the crowd” and fireworks were set off, the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) told Newsweek.

Organized by Baltimore Pride, an affiliate of The Pride Center of Maryland, the Baltimore Parade and Block Party took place Saturday afternoon on North Charles Street in Maryland’s most populous city.

“At approximately 8:37 p.m., attendees informed officers stationed at the Pride Parade festivities that a possible chemical agent was released into the crowd, potentially mace, hair spray, or another agent. Police did not release the chemical agent,” Detective Freddie Talbert of the BPD told Newsweek in an email Sunday afternoon.

“Additionally, fireworks were set off at the location, causing attendees to flee the area,” Talbert said. “Due to the large crowd fleeing, several individuals were injured as they attempted to leave the area.” Reports suggest this took place near the party’s mainstage on North Avenue and Charles Street.

Officials from the Baltimore Fire Department “treated individuals, and the event was shut down,” Talbert added. Online, the event was originally slated to end at 9 p.m.

Newsweek is unable to confirm how many people were in attendance and injured. Over 1,200 individuals RSVPed to the event on the Baltimore Pride website. Organizers at the Pride Center of Maryland previously estimated that the weekend’s celebrations would attract 100,000 people.

Talbert informed Newsweek that this is an ongoing investigation.

“The type of chemical agent released has not been confirmed. Our officers are diligently reviewing the surveillance video to gather all the necessary information and determine the sequence of events,” he said. “We do not have any information to support that this was a targeted attack.”

Photos and videos on social media show hundreds of parade participants marching through the streets prior to the unidentified chemical agent release.

U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks was in attendance of the parade and posted photos of the day on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote, “As Maryland’s next Senator, I am going to fight for LGBTQIA+ Marylanders every single day. Love is love!”

The Baltimore Banner reported that Bailey Anne Kennedy, the first transgender woman to become Miss Maryland USA, was also at the parade.

The organizers of the parade and block party have not posted an official statement as of Sunday afternoon.

Newsweek reached out to the Baltimore Pride organizers and the fire department for comment and information via email on Sunday. Newsweek submitted an online contact form with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s office on Sunday.

It appears Sunday’s Pride in the Park event is still slated to occur from noon to 6 p.m. The event features performances by local artists, activities, workouts, cash bar, and HIV testing.