A mass shooting in Edmond, Okla., near the campground, according to reports, has left at least 15 injured late Sunday evening.
Emergency medical and police personnel have responded to the scene. It happened around the Arcadia Lake Campground, east of East 15th Street and Air Depot Road, local officials and witnesses reported.
Officers in police vehicles, ambulances, and tactical units were spotted pouring into the area soon after gunfire erupted. Videos and photos posted on social media showed a large police presence near the campground while they scurried up close and personal to try to take control of the area and save the victims.
Initial scanner reports and witness accounts suggest people were shot in the act of fighting while in what appeared to be an outdoor gathering at a large outdoor event near the campgrounds. Officials said there were no formal names for official suspects or arrests, and that more than one shooter may have been implicated.
The injured victims, some of whom were said to be critically ill, were brought to local hospitals. Hospitals in the community prepared for new patients arriving overnight to flood their ranks and sent emergency medical units out through the night to help coordinate care.
Edmond Police officials reported that a shooting had taken place around Arcadia Lake, but have done little so far to share information about casualties, who the victims were or the motivations for the attack. And authorities have also so far refused to accept the conclusion that it was a random occurrence or whether a confrontation happened among participants of the gathering.
The shooting has terrified the residents of Edmond, a suburban neighbourhood to the north of Oklahoma City that has been known as one of the state's quieter areas. And so the neighbourly response from concerned neighbours became urgent as social media swirled: people heard sirens and watched helicopters or police convoys approaching the campground into the night.
While detectives conduct their investigations this month, authorities advise members of the public not to report unconfirmed information and not to go into the area while the emergency response takes place. Official accounts will be updated as information is obtained in the course of the investigation.
The incident aligns with national fears of gun violence and mass shootings of various types, including urban and outdoor public accommodations, the law enforcement said. The shooting details are still being investigated; as of now, they have not said that all suspects are in custody.
