1 Dead, 8 Shot at Mass Shooting in a High School Graduation Party in Alabama

A police car in a file photo. Pixabay

ATMORE—Alabama authorities say a high school graduation party fueled by alcohol spiraled out of control early Saturday, May 18, leaving one person dead.

Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks tells news outlets eight other people were hurt in a shooting at the old Escambia County Middle School, which now serves as the city’s community center.

Authorities received a 911 call around 2 a.m. When police arrived, they found a man who was shot to death inside the building’s cafeteria. His name has not been released.

The wounded victims have been transported to the Atmore Community Hospital for treatment, one of the injured was transferred to the Sacred Heart Hospital by a medical helicopter because of severe injuries.

KETK News posted a video on Twitter, showing police officers at the Middle School.

“When officers arrived it was chaos with more than 300 people running around. Brooks says it started with two women fighting, and then more people jumped in with gunshots,” WOOD-TV reported.

Brooks said word spread about the party via social media. No arrests have been made at this time, but they are looking for two people.

‘Second Shooting at Party Today’

Another shooting at an off-campus house party near Ball State University in Indiana left seven people injured, three of them critically early Saturday, police said.

It’s not clear how many people might have opened fire, but police said one man was in custody. One of the wounded had to be airlifted to a hospital in Indianapolis, about 50 miles southwest of Muncie, Police Chief Joe Winkle told WXIN-TV.

VaShaun Harnett, 19, of Muncie, was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder, police told The (Muncie) Star Press.

Vice President Mike Pence, who delivered the commencement address Saturday at Taylor University in nearby Upland, commented on the shooting on Twitter.

“Landed in Muncie, IN this morning and was briefed on last night’s shooting,” the former Indiana governor wrote. “My prayers are with the injured and their families. God bless them all.”

NTD News staff contributed to this article.