Normally you visit the zoo see animals in their natural habitat, not the other way aroun
Via FOX 19
As police continue on Wednesday to investigate Tuesday’s violence at the Kansas City Zoo, city leaders are looking at changes to the zoo’s free admission days for residents of Jackson and Clay counties.
Kansas City Zoo goers described Tuesday afternoon running for their lives after hundreds of teens were involved in fights inside the zoo and shots were fired in a zoo parking lot.
“It was very scary,” Liberty resident Jaimi Heckadon said. “All hell broke loose.”
As she and her group bolted for the exit, Heckadon said she heard people screaming about officers using pepper spray.
“The problem was these teenagers. None of them were escorted by an adult,” she said.
Extra security was already on hand, but dozens of Kansas City police officers responded to the zoo after the issues erupted about 3:30 p.m. The zoo closed at 4 p.m. as scheduled.
No serious injuries were reported because of the issues. Authorities said Tuesday that 10 arrests were made and gun was found on top of a fire pit in Swope Park, which surrounds the zoo.
On Wednesday, police said “numerous arrests were made for fighting in public and assault.”
Marc Hoefer said Tuesday that the zoo and police response “was outstanding.” But he like many other zoo goers said Tuesday that they would not return for a free zoo day.
Zoo and park officials said they will immediately look at what changes need to be made in response to Tuesday’s problems.
Mayor Sly James emphatically said Wednesday that “we had young people who were misbehaving badly.” However, he does not believe violence at the Country Club Plaza involving large groups of youth and Tuesday’s events at the Kansas City Zoo are connected.