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MILWAUKEE - The Locust Street Festival has a reputation as a safe festival. It’s been a popular event for 33 years. That’s why the shooting of a man in the middle of the festival on Sunday evening has come as a shock to many. TODAY’S TMJ4 cameras were there as the victim was rushed to the hospital after being shot at the festival. The gunshot ran out in the middle of the crowd. Because of the loud music, many people couldn’t tell what was happening. “I thought I heard something that sounded like a balloon popping, and that’s what I let it go as,” said Robert Page, who was at the festival. Police say the suspect and victim know each other, though there is no indication the shooting was a result of gang violence. The two men had an argument at the festival and the 17-year-old suspect shot the 38-year-old victim in the hand. The bullet passed through his hand into his leg. Resident Erin Taylor saw the shooter run off through the crowd. “I was walking with my kids home to my house, and all of a sudden people just started running and a gentleman ran down the street. Later, through the police, we found out that was who they were looking for,” Taylor said. The victim is expected to survive his injuries. As police closed off the crime scene on Sunday night, the music kept playing and the festival continued. Many said the Locust Street Festival is the last place they would expect a shooting. Most said they still felt the festival was safe. “I think it would have happened without the festival going on, if they had trouble between each other. It just happened to be here,” Erin Taylor said. Police say they know the identity of the shooter, but he has not been arrested yet. Violence has happened before at festivals generally considered to be safe. Festival organizers are now thinking about what can be done to prevent violence. Jim Linneman, owner of Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, has been involved with the Locust Street Festival for decades. “I never experienced anything like it at our festival. Our festival has always been a peace-loving thing,” Linneman said. “I don’t know how something like that can be prevented. If there wasn’t a festival going on, would this have happened? With two men walking down the street, having an argument and someone pulling a gun?” Linneman said. The RiverSplash festival added extra security after a shooting last year. This year, there were no major incidents at RiverSplash. Linneman hopes what happened on Locust Street isn’t a trend. “A sad incident in the city. With summer kicking off. I hope that this isn’t a precedent for things to come,” Linneman said. Residents are concerned this one act of violence will tarnish the festival’s reputation for years to come. Fortunately for organizers, many people we spoke with said they would still come back next year. “I think it’s pretty safe. It’s just bad people starting trouble,” Erin Taylor said. Festival organizers plan to meet on Wednesday to talk about the shooting.