Shooting at teen party in Arizona leaves two dead, five injured as suspect at large
Cash reward for information offered after mulitple teenagers shot at party in Yuma neighbourhood
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A late-night shooting in Yuma, Arizona, left two people dead and five injured, local police say.
Several teenage victims were transported to hospital for treatment, and as yet, no suspect is in custody.
ABC News reports that police responded to a call about an aggravated assault, which came in just before 11pm local time.
Lt Craig Johnson of the Yuma Police Department said officers responded to South J Edward Drive in the Terra Bella neighbourhood.
On arrival, they found multiple people with gunshot wounds at a gathering, local radio reports that it was teenagers having a party.
Police have since confirmed that two men, aged 19 and 20, were pronounced dead at Yuma Regional Medical Center.
A 16-year-old boy was flown from the same medical facility to Phoenix to get treatment for life-threatening injuries.
Four other teenagers, aged 15, 16, 18, and 19, were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Yuma police officials report.
The police department says “several off-duty law enforcement officers” who were in the area assisted with the response to the shooting.
The mother of one of the victims told the Z93 radio station: “My son attended a party in the foothills last night. A fight broke out, and shots were fired.”
She continues: “My son was caught in the crossfire and was shot in the leg. The bullet exited near the back of his knee. A bullet also grazed his arm. X-rays show that there is probably no serious damage, but they are keeping him overnight or at this point, day, for observation.”
The mother adds: “My kid attended a party like 15-year-olds do. Is this what is happening in Yuma now? I am sickened, saddened and pissed off. We need to do better.”
She says they don’t know what motivated the shooting and she does not know who was involved and adds her son was not targeted. He was “just in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
While the suspect is still at large, Lt Johnson says there is no credible ongoing threat to the community.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. A $1,000 cash reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call the Yuma Police Department.