Seven revellers were shot at a nightclub near Los Angeles as it hosted a Halloween party called ‘The First Purge.’
Desperate club-goers stampeded towards the exit of Sevilla Nightclub in Riverside, California, when shots were heard, witnesses said.
Fights broke out in the street as people ran for their lives, witnesses told KTLA.
Authorities received reports of a shooting at the Sevilla Nightclub in Riverside just after 12am on Sunday
One man said people were dancing in the club when he heard gunshots go off.
‘I turned around and people (were) shooting,’ he told the station.
‘I ran behind the bar and all of a sudden there was a whole bunch of people crunched up by the exit.’
He added: ‘I was just praying, like, God get me through this.’
Riverside police said received a call just after midnight reporting a shooting taking place inside and outside the club.
Officers arrived at the venue, which also houses a restaurant, on Mission Inn Avenue where they located two people suffering from gunshot wounds.
They were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Riverside Police said a further five people arrived at hospitals in the area to get treatment for gunshot injuries they received during the shooting at the club.
Further details about their conditions is not known.
Riverside Police said they have launched an attempted murder investigation.
Detectives from the Robbery – Homicide Unit, Gang Intelligence Unit, as well as technicians from the Forensics Unit have begun investigating.
A police spokesman said the investigation is ongoing and no other details are available.
The club was hosting a Halloween event with several live rap performers on Sunday night.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Detective Trevor Childers at (951) 353-7130 or Detective Karla Corbett at (951) 353-7134.
They can also submit information anonymously by emailing rpdtips@riversideca.gov or utilize the Riverside Police Department’s mobile app ‘Submit a Tip’ feature referencing incident number P18204848.