Texas party shooting: Gunfire erupts at vigil for victim
28 October 2019
Gunfire erupted during a vigil for a man who was killed in a shooting at a party in Texas the night before. No injuries were reported from the vigil shooting, which police said was caused by a "disturbance". In the party shooting on Saturday night in Greenville, Texas, two died and 12 were injured. Police are still searching for the gunman, whose identity and motive remain unknown. The vigil was held on Sunday at a park in Dallas for 23-year-old Kevin Barry, named by his family as one of the two killed at the party. As the vigil was ending, multiple gunshots were heard, causing mourners and reporters to take cover, according to local media reports. Some 750 people gathered on Saturday at an event space in Greenville, about 15 miles (24km) south-west of a Texas A&M University satellite campus in the town of Commerce. Officials said it was a Halloween and homecoming party for the university, though it was not a school-sanctioned event. Many of the partygoers were college students in their late teens and early 20s. Shortly before midnight, gunshots rang out, causing hundreds of people to flee. Police said initial witness reports indicated that the shooter had targeted his first victim before turning his handgun on the crowd and firing at random. The gunman is believed to have fled in the resulting chaos. County Sheriff Randy Meeks told reporters he was "appalled" that the police had not been able to get a better description of the shooter from one of the many witnesses. "Due to the many different descriptions being provided by those in attendance at that party, we unfortunately do not have any solid suspect information to provide at this time," he said during a press conference on Sunday. Police said the two killed were both males. Of the 12 injured, six were being treated for gunshot wounds. At least four are in critical condition. The rest were injured by glass or being trampled. The FBI and the Texas Rangers - a state-wide investigative agency - are helping in the investigation.
Some 750 people gathered on Saturday at an event space in Greenville, about 15 miles (24km) south-west of a Texas A&M University satellite campus in the town of Commerce. Officials said it was a Halloween and homecoming party for the university, though it was not a school-sanctioned event. Many of the partygoers were college students in their late teens and early 20s. Shortly before midnight, gunshots rang out, causing hundreds of people to flee. Police said initial witness reports indicated that the shooter had targeted his first victim before turning his handgun on the crowd and firing at random. The gunman is believed to have fled in the resulting chaos. County Sheriff Randy Meeks told reporters he was "appalled" that the police had not been able to get a better description of the shooter from one of the many witnesses. "Due to the many different descriptions being provided by those in attendance at that party, we unfortunately do not have any solid suspect information to provide at this time," he said during a press conference on Sunday. Police said the two killed were both males. Of the 12 injured, six were being treated for gunshot wounds. At least four are in critical condition. The rest were injured by glass or being trampled. The FBI and the Texas Rangers - a state-wide investigative agency - are helping in the investigation.
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What happened at the party?