Six people were killed and 12 others injured early Sunday when multiple shooters opened fire outside the bars and nightclubs of downtown Sacramento, authorities said.
Authorities did not have any suspects in custody as of Sunday afternoon, Sacramento Police Chief Kathy Lester told reporters. The shooting took place near the corner of 10th and K streets, and investigators were reviewing video from the scene as well as tips from the public.
"This is very, very preliminary," Lester said. "We are asking for the public's help in helping us identify any suspects."
Officers who were in the area heard shots being fired around 2 a.m. as businesses were closing and found a large crowd with at least 16 people injured. The officers called for assistance and rendered aid to the injured, Lester said. Twelve people who had been shot were transported or took themselves to area hospitals, police said.
Video posted by KCRA 3 before the shooting broke out shows a fight on the street moments before dozens of gunshots broke out, causing crowds of people to run.
Investigators are currently interviewing numerous witnesses and have located hundreds of pieces of evidence, including a stolen handgun, Lester said at a Sunday afternoon press conference.
For hours after the shooting, frustrated family members waited for news about their loved ones who may have been killed or injured in the shooting. The victims — who included three men and three women — have not been officially identified, but by midday Sunday, some of the their names and photographs were being shared by local journalists.
I just spoke with Frank Turner outside the scene of the mass shooting in #Sacramento. He shared with me his son, 29-year-old DeVazia Turner is one of the 6 shot and killed in this shooting. He lived in Vacaville but is from Sacramento @ABC10
This is Sergio. He is one of the 6 victims in the mass shooting in Downtown #Sacramento. He was a father and married. His family gave me this picture as they are gathered outside the scene. @ABC10 #massshooting
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said at a press conference Sunday that action must be taken to prevent tragedy on such a scale.
"We must do more, as a city, as a state, and as a nation. This senseless epidemic of gun violence must be addressed," he said. "How many unending tragedies does it take before we begin to cure the sickness in this country?"
The American Public Health Association says gun violence in the US is a public health crisis. It is a leading cause of premature death in the country, responsible for more than 38,000 deaths annually. As of April 3, at least 10,794 people have died from gun violence this year, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.