Cleveland officials decry violence as 20 shot, 3 killed

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Authorities in Cleveland are condemning rising gun violence and violent crime as a score of people were shot and three killed over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Police said a 57-year-old man, a 50-year-old man and a 47-year-old man were killed in shootings between 8 p.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday in the city. The other victims included an 8-year-old girl shot in the arm as she sat in the back seat of a car struck by gunfire.

Police reported several double or triple shootings over the weekend.

The city’s mayor, police chief and safety director issued a statement saying there was “no excuse for this violent activity” and saying police “are actively pursuing the perpetrators.”