This is a developing story and will update.
Two people are dead and five others injured following a mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis July 5, just hours after thousands gathered for a fireworks show.
At least three of the seven shot around 1:30 a.m. on West Washington Street and South Illinois Street were juveniles, one of whom died at an area hospital, officials from the Indianapolis Police Department said. Another person was pronounced dead at the scene.
Four other people were also taken to area hospitals by first responders in unknown condition. A fifth person walked into a local hospital and is in stable condition.
At a news conference outside Monument Circle, IMPD Chief Chris Bailey appeared visibly upset as he scolded parents for continuing to allow their children out at night unsupervised. Hundreds of unsupervised juveniles were out downtown after the fireworks ended, he said.
“Parents and guardians have got to step up,” Bailey said. “A kid is dead tonight. And we just don’t know the age of the young man down the street, still here, dead. But he looks young.”
Police were responding to another fight when they heard gunshots one block away. When they arrived, they found several people shot, IMPD officials said.
Seven were detained for questioning, and multiple guns were recovered, officials said.
Bailey said last night was a scene of frequent conflict despite the presence of hundreds of officers from IMPD, state police and Capitol police.
Officers made about 20 arrests and recovered guns from two children before the mass shooting happened, he said. One juvenile had an assault rifle stuffed in the front of his pants, officials said.
Indiana police union leader Rick Snyder compared the shooting to a storm’s arrival and said the inaction of local elected leaders caused the deaths.
At least eight others were injured in shootings in the past 24 hours across Indianapolis, police said.
This is Indianapolis’ second weekend of violence, following last weekend’s shootings that left seven dead and nine injured.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2 dead, 5 injured following mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis