A shooting at a packed lakeside party in Oklahoma left an 18-year-old woman dead and 22 others with gunshot and shrapnel wounds, police said Tuesday, as officers continued to investigate a burst of gunfire that erupted after a fight broke out among partygoers.
The incident unfolded around 10 p.m. Sunday at a picnic pavilion alongside Arcadia Lake, a popular boating, fishing and swimming spot just north of Oklahoma City, according to the Edmond Police Department. A party advertised on social media drew a large crowd of mostly young adults to the pavilion.
Police spokesman Sgt. James Hamm said officers were responding to a noise complaint about the gathering when the shooting began. “It just started a whole bunch of chaos,” said Jeremiah Braxton, who attended the party. He said two of his friends were among those shot.
The deceased was identified only as an 18-year-old woman. Hamm said many of the wounded were not involved in the altercation that preceded the gunfire and were “simply attending the party.” Some suffered graze wounds and many were treated and released, he added, noting that it is possible more people were hit but did not seek medical care.
Three hospitals in the Oklahoma City area said they had treated 18 patients from the party, with ages ranging from 16 to 30. No arrests have been made, but investigators have information that suggests there is no ongoing danger to the public, Hamm said. Police declined to release information about potential suspects, how many people may have fired shots or what types of weapons were used, citing the need to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Edmond Mayor Mark Nash said Monday that the pavilion can be reserved for large gatherings but no reservation had been made for the party.
The Associated Press contributed reporting from Toledo, Ohio, and Boise, Idaho.