SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse saw an unusual spike in violence this Fourth of July weekend as 10 people were shot and wounded in less than 24 hours, city police said.

"It's unusual and it's unfortunate," Syracuse police Lt. Eric Carr said, "but we are investigating each one."

None of the victims has died, however one man is in critical condition, he said.

"We're fortunate they're not more severely injured," Carr said. "We're taking these seriously."

Three shot at Thornden Park

Syracuse police have accused a 16-year-old boy of shooting a 20-year-old man in the head around 7:44 p.m. Saturday at Thornden Park in the city. Two others, an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy also were shot, police said. Their injuries do not appear to be life threatening, police said.

The alleged shooter, Shaquez Collins, of 131 Cumberland Ave., Syracuse, was charged with first-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He is accused of shooting the 20-year-old, who is in critical condition at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. More charges are possible, police said.

Four shot at Bellevue Avenue and Rich Street

Four people were struck by bullets when someone opened fire on a crowd watching Fourth of July fireworks at the southeast corner of Bellevue Avenue and Rich Street around 10:24 p.m. Saturday, police said.

Police are still searching for the shooter. The victims included a 24-year-old woman shot in the shoulder; a 17-year-old man shot in the elbow; a 24-year-old man shot in the arm; and a 19-year-old man shot in the back. Their injuries are not considered life threatening, police said.

Man shot in back, buttocks, legs on Westmoreland Ave.

A 29-year-old man was shot in the back, buttocks and legs around 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the 500 block of Westmoreland Ave., police said. Witnesses told police a black man wearing all black clothes approached the victim and shot him several times.

Police are still searching for the shooter. The victim is in stable condition Sunday at Upstate University Hospital.



Two men shot on Syracuse's East Side

Two men sitting on the front stoop of a vacant home in the 1600 block of East Fayette Street were shot around 2:10 p.m. Sunday when a red colored SUV pulled up in front of the house and several shots were fired from the vehicle, police said.

A 28-year-old man was shot several times; a 27-year-old man was shot once in the buttocks, police said. The victims were taken to Upstate University Hospital. Both are expected to survive.

Police are searching for the SUV, which was last seen traveling east on East Fayette Street and then south on Columbus Avenue. Police have no description of the suspects.

Syracuse police say they are continuing to investigate all four shooting incidents that took place over the Fourth of July weekend. Anyone with information can call the Syracuse Police Department at (315) 442-5222.

"There's nothing at this time to indicate the shootings are connected," Carr said.