Nine people were injured in a mass shooting at an after-prom party Sunday, Jasper County Sheriff’s Office reported.
The victims were teens, ages 15-19, who were attending a party at a residence in Jasper, Texas, Karli Cherry told KFDM, speaking on behalf of the JCSO.
“We first want to say our prayers are with those injured early Sunday morning in the shooting that took place north of town,” Jasper Independent School District Superintendent John Seybold said in a statement acquired by the outlet.
“Jasper ISD working with law enforcement in any way we can to aide in their investigation to bring these perpetrators to justice. There will be a much larger law enforcement presence this week to ensure student safety, as well as counselors on hand for any students who need their assistance,” Seybold also said.
JCSO said deputies responded to a call shortly after midnight about a disturbance on County Road 263 north of Jasper involving shots being fired. The home was the site of an after-prom party, according to JSCO’s press release.
When they arrived, they found nine victims with gunshot wounds which were not life-threatening. The teens were transferred to local hospitals for treatment.
Jasper County Sheriff Mitchel Newman confirmed all involved were teens from the Jasper and Newton area, according to KJAS.
JCSO said in their statement that they were questioning people of interest. As of noon Sunday, no arrests had yet been made, KJAS also reported.
The investigation into the after-prom party shooting is ongoing.
While at Jasper Memorial Hospital in the emergency room where the injured had been taken for treatment, officers heard gunshots being fired outside the hospital, KJAS reported. Jasper Police Lieutenant Garret Foster said the officers never saw anyone firing those shots.
Later, Foster told the outlet multiple houses and vehicles had been hit by gunfire early Sunday morning.
Authorities say they believe this second incident is unrelated to the mass shooting at the party.
Rather, the second incident on Sunday involved “two men who started shooting at each other.” People in the area say they heard about 15 shots, the outlet also reported.
About a week before the second Sunday incident, just around the corner, someone shot 65-year-old Elvin Land at his home while he was in bed, KFDM reported. Jasper Police say they have no leads in the Land shooting case.
The city of Jasper, known as the “Jewel of the Forest” according to its website, is in eastern Texas. Its population is about 8,500.
TheBlaze reached out to Jasper’s mayor Randy Sayers for comment, but did not hear back in time for publication.
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