1 Dead, 8 Shot After Gunfire Erupts at Alabama High School Graduation Party

Photo: WKRG

A shooting at a high school graduation party in Atmore, Alabama, early Saturday morning has resulted in one person dead and eight injured, according to theAssociated Press.

Atmore police responded to a call around 2:00 a.m. on Saturday morning with authorities arriving at the former Escambia County Middle School, which now serves as the city’s community center, where they found a man who had been shot to death in the cafeteria.

The community center had been the site of a high school graduation party that involved alcohol and hundreds of people. Word spread about the party through social media, Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks told the AP.

WKRGreported that the incident began when two women started fighting and others got involved. According toAL.com, “numerous gunshots” were fired inside the building, and the shooting continued outside in the building’s parking lot.

Eight additional people were shot, and were taken to local hospitals for treatment, according to WKRG. As of Saturday afternoon, seven of the eight had been released from the hospital. (The names of the injured or deceased have not yet been released.)

• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage?Click hereto get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

WKRG reports that no arrests have been made, but police are now searching for at least three suspects connected to the shooting, and are working to get statements from those who were released from the hospital.

Principal Dennis Fuqua of Escambia County High School responded to the incidentin a statementon Saturday afternoon.

The statement continued: “It is unfortunate that the event at the community center has tainted the success our seniors and football team felt, but we love our Blue Devil Family and will continue to pray for wisdom and healing.”

source: people.com