PHOENIX – A 14-year-old girl was killed and eight others were injured early Saturday in a shootout amid a crowd at a mall northwest of downtown Phoenix, police said.
Sgt. Andy Williams told reporters nine people were taken to hospitals after the 1 a.m. shooting sent people running near 10th Avenue and Hatcher Road. The 14-year-old girl died after being taken to hospital, two women have life-threatening injuries and six have non-life-threatening injuries.
In an interview with ABC 15, Williams said no suspects were immediately identified and no arrests were made as authorities gathered witnesses.
Williams said a gun appeared to have been used after a rally broke out between the rallies for what he called “some kind of party”.
“Many rounds were fired at this crowd of people as everyone fled the area,” he said.
Williams said the injured are between 17 and 24 years old.
The shooting came about an hour after police reported that a teenager was shot dead outside his home about three blocks away. It was not immediately known if the two shootings were related.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego responded to the shooting on Twitter, saying, “Looks like we can’t spend a day without another mass shooting.”
“Time is running out,” he said. “Change must happen now.”