Police in California are searching for at least one suspect in connection with a mass shooting early Sunday in downtown Sacramento that claimed six lives and left 10 other people injured.
Sacramento Police Chief Kathy Lester told a news conference that police were patrolling the area at about 2 a.m. when they heard gunfire. When they arrived at the scene, they found a large crowd gathered on the street and six people dead. Another 10 either took themselves or were transported to hospital. No information was given on their conditions.
Authorities don't know whether one or more suspects were involved and are asking for the public's help in identifying who is responsible. Lester did not give specifics on the type of gun used.
This is "a very complex and complicated scene," she xjmtzywsaid. Lester issued a plea to the public, asking for witnesses or anyone with recordings of the incident to contact police.
Shortly after the shooting, video was posted on Twitter that showed people running through the street amid the sound of rapid gunfire. Video showed multiple ambulances at the scene.
Residents were asked to avoid the area, which is packed with restaurants and bars that leads to the Golden 1 Center, where the Sacramento Kings play basketball.
Berry Accius, a community activist, said he came to the scene shortly after the shooting occurred.
"The first thing I saw was, like, victims … a young girl screaming saying, 'They killed my sister.' A mother running up, 'Where's my son, has my son been shot?'" he said.
Kay Harris, 32, said she was asleep when one of her family members called to say they thought her brother had been killed. She said she thought he was at London, a nightclub on 10th Street.
Harris said she has been to the club a few times and described it as a place for "the younger crowd."
Police have the streets around the club closed, with yellow police tape fluttering in the early morning breeze. Harris says she has spent the morning circling the block waiting for news.
"Very much so a senseless violent act," she said.
