Charged: Milwaukee man accused in possible gang-related shooting in Sheboygan park



SHEBOYGAN (WITI) -- They were having their wedding reception in a Sheboygan park, when they witnessed a possible gang shooting!

It happened at Kiwanis Park in Sheboygan on the evening of Memorial Day.

The Sheboygan Police Department received multiple 911 calls around 9 p.m. Officers arrived within minutes and interviewed numerous witnesses.

No one was injured during the incident and the suspects had fled the scene.

Shortly after the incident, Sheboygan police said they believe the suspects in this case were familiar with one another.

On Tuesday, June 17th, a man was officially charged. He is 23-year-old John Yang of Milwaukee.

Officials say Yang came to down on May 31st -- possibly, to settle a score.

"The real concern is we have someone shooting in a public park. This is the first that I can recollect of the Asian Crip gang coming up and having a shooting," Sheboygan County Assistant District Attorney Joel Urmanski said.

Authorities say Yang drove his car on the basketball courts, exchanged words with a known Sheboygan gang member and fired shots.

Just feet away, at the park's hall, a wedding reception was underway.

"There is not only a wedding reception going on, but there is also a number of families playing basketball and watching," Urmanski said.

Guests from the wedding asked not to go on camera, but say they thought the shots were fireworks, until they saw people scrambling.

Luckily, no one was hit.

It's a wedding day surprise that had led to an arrest -- but at least one mom says it won't stop her from enjoying Kiwanis Park.

"We like this park because it is so big. It's usually pretty packed. You're going to run risks of that anywhere you go.  So it's not enough to want to stay away.  I'm not going to punish my kids because a couple of gang kids had an issue here," Riki Kirschner said.

While the wedding guests asked not to go on camera, they say as the police investigation began, the DJ kept playing music and the party went on -- so the wedding wasn't a complete bust.