CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Following Saturday’s gunfire at a community “Trunk or Treat” at Tonsler Park, Charlottesville Chief of Police Michael Kochis said his department will have to consider having a heavier presence at events going forward, despite both the cost and negative optics that would bring.

He said he spent much of Sunday hearing from community members who are frustrated by the latest incident.

“What is most concerning about this is the amount of small children that were there and present in the park,” Kochis said. “This was an event that tried to really just be a safe place for folks to go and enjoy themselves. We should be able to have these types of events and not have to worry about someone pulling out a gun and shooting at somebody. That’s exactly what happened on Saturday.”

CPD had two officers assigned to Saturday’s event. They heard gunshots at approximately 7:45 p.m. and responded. Police cleared the park as they assessed the situation and searched for a suspect. No one was injured and no property was damaged, Kochis said.

Police have been reviewing cell phone videos from the event and the incident.

“We’ll identify this individual, we’ll apprehend him and we’ll make sure he gets his day in court,” Kochis said. “It was just a reckless disregard for human life, for small children, for anybody in the park. It just doesn’t make any sense.”

Kochis praised the event’s organizers, a group that included Wes Bellamy, who partnered with Kochis and others on the city’s Fourth of July event this year.

“The organizers who put on these events, they’re just trying to do the right thing,” Kochis said. “They’re trying to create a space where people come and be safe and something like this happens.”

Bellamy shared a message on social media Saturday night after the incident, apologizing for the way the night ended.

“Nick (Feggans) and I always want everyone to feel safe at our community events, and we pay money out of our own pockets to ensure that everyone has a good time,” Bellamy posted. “The youngin’s are indeed a little hectic… I will not deny that or make excuses for their behavior. Fighting and shooting at a community trunk or treat is inexcusable behavior.

“But THIS is why we do the work we do. We have to help them. Conflict resolution skills have to be developed. Mentoring and showing our young men how to think before they act is of the utmost importance.”

Kochis noted CPD had a heavier presence at the Fourth of July event, but said that comes with a “significant cost” to the city.

“In my opinion, you really can’t put a price on people’s safety,” Kochis said. “I think we’re going to need to look at how we staff events and what we do. Obviously, there’s a balance we have to strike. We should be able to have these types of events in our community without having an overwhelming show of police presence. That being said, until we can do that, well then that’s what we’ll need to do.”

Kochis said he’s received an outpouring of calls from community members since the incident, some with information about the case, other’s expressing their frustration that a positive event was soured and their concern that these types of things keep happening in the city.

“What really stood out to me was the amount of calls I got from folks in the community that are fed up with it,” Kochis said.