A mass shooting at a child’s birthday party in Louisiana left six people wounded — including a 12-year-old, authorities said.
The gunfire that broke out at the bash late Saturday in LaPlace was sparked by an argument, according to St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office.
No fatalities were reported and no arrests had been made as of Sunday.
Investigators believe two groups of young men involved in an ongoing feud met up at the party prior to the mass shooting, but witnesses have not been cooperative, Sheriff Mike Tregre told NOLA.com.
“We have not one witness, not one person that saw anything yet,” Tregre said. “I’m going to be polite — it’s more than frustrating.”
Evidence shows that more than one gun was fired, according to the report. One victim was 12 years old and several had “superficial” injuries, Tregre said, but none of the wounds were considered life-threatening.
Three people, however, needed surgery, the sheriff said.
“We will not stop,” Tregre told the outlet while vowing to make arrests. “We’re going to continue at this. Somebody’s gotta come forward. This cannot just go like this.”
A neighbor who saw paramedics respond to the shooting scene said all of the victims appeared to be children.
“Everybody I saw taken to the ambulance — they were all kids,” Rashad Bolden told WWL-TV. “I looked out my window and saw a whole bunch of people scurrying, so I came outside.”
Bolden said someone shot into a “garage full of kids” during the incident.
“You want to call it heartless, but you know they are not old enough to know what heartless is,” he told the station.
A message seeking comment from sheriff’s officials early Monday was not immediately returned.
Anyone with additional information on the shooting is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (877) 903-7867.