ROUND ROCK, Texas — Following a mass shooting in Round Rock at a Juneteenth festival that left two dead and injured 14, the city is preparing for safety at its Fourth of July events on Thursday.
Events will start with a parade along Mays Street followed by music and fireworks at Old Settlers Park. The city expects there will be about 20,000 people at Old Settlers Parks.
"For the parade, you will see officers above where the festivities are, you'll seem them on the ground with the folks that are there. Same at Old Settlers Park, with the sky watch tower, they will be looking from above and on the ground," Sara Bustilloz, a spokesperson for the city, said.
For longtime resident and Round Rock Donuts employee Kelly Rivera, the parade on the Fourth of July is a big deal, with floats, music and community groups.
"I love bagpipers – that's my favorite thing. I love listening to those bagpipes," she said.
Rivera said she was devastated when she heard the news about two killed and 14 injured at the recent Juneteenth event at Old Settlers Park.
“You know, that is so sad because you feel Round Rock is sort of insulated from that all of that," Rivera said.
But she still plans to come to the Fourth of July festivities on Thursday.
"There is a lot of police presence, so I am sure they will be out in force," she said.
Jessica Sanchez also plans to attend the Fourth of July festivities with her loved ones. She said the Juneteenth shooting was concerning, and she plans to be cautious on Thursday.
"Hopefully we don't have anything tragic like that and, hopefully, [there is] a lot more security,” Sanchez said.
"This an event an event for the Round Rock community by the Round Rock community, so you will see plenty of Round Rock police officers out there," Bustilloz said.