The shooting at the Oceano Dunes that left at least six people injured late Saturday night was a terrifying end to what one family thought would be a fun night of music on the beach.
“The music was playing and we heard gunshots,” Oscar Cardenas said.
Cardenas was visiting the Dunes with his family Saturday for a Cinco De Mayo concert on the sand when he said a series of fights sent his family back to their tent.
But around midnight, the sound of music was cut off by the popping of gunshots.
“Everybody started scattering, we didn’t know what was going on because were were at the campsite until we heard a shot that was pretty close by so we took cover,” Cardenas said. “After that it was mayhem.”
What started as a music concert quickly turned to people running and screaming as gunshot victims stumbled around holding their wounds. Cardenas remembers panic washing over the Dunes.
“I saw a guy who was shot in the stomach, people were giving him first aid,” Cardenas said. “I called 911 and they told me they already had officers on their way.”
California State Park rangers and San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s deputies swarmed the beach, searching for a shooter and tending to victims.
“There were multiple victims,” SLO Co. Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Grace Norris said.
At last check, six people were wounded in the shooting. There was no update Sunday evening on the severity of their injuries.
Authorities believe Francisco Orozco, 19, pulled the trigger but a motive for the attack is still under investigation.
“Right now, we’re conducting interviews with everyone that was present,” Norris said.
People leaving the bloodied campsite Sunday morning were briefly questioned by deputies on their way out.
Detectives equipped with metal detectors searched in the sand, where emptied beer cans, abandoned lawn chairs and a sombrero mark the place where a night of fun took a violent turn.
Orozco is being held at the SLO County jail on $500,000 bond for attempted murder.
