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Shooting in Texas Leaves 2 Dead and at Least 12 Wounded, Officials Say Shooting in Texas Leaves 2 Dead and at Least 12 Wounded, Officials Say
(about 4 hours later)
Two people were fatally shot and at least 12 others sustained gunshot wounds after a gunman opened fire at a crowded homecoming party in Greenville, Texas, early on Sunday, the police said.Two people were fatally shot and at least 12 others sustained gunshot wounds after a gunman opened fire at a crowded homecoming party in Greenville, Texas, early on Sunday, the police said.
Sheriff’s deputies were responding to a complaint about attendees at the party having parked their cars illegally on the shoulder of Highway 380, Chief Deputy Buddy Oxford of the Hunt County Sheriff’s Department said.Sheriff’s deputies were responding to a complaint about attendees at the party having parked their cars illegally on the shoulder of Highway 380, Chief Deputy Buddy Oxford of the Hunt County Sheriff’s Department said.
A little after midnight and while deputies were still there, a gunman opened fire on partygoers with a handgun, Sheriff Randy Meeks said at a news conference on Sunday morning.A little after midnight and while deputies were still there, a gunman opened fire on partygoers with a handgun, Sheriff Randy Meeks said at a news conference on Sunday morning.
Sheriff Meeks said the gunman had come through a back door and shot a “target victim.” The other victims were shot at random, he said.Sheriff Meeks said the gunman had come through a back door and shot a “target victim.” The other victims were shot at random, he said.
“That is our theory with what circumstantial evidence we have,” Sheriff Meeks said.“That is our theory with what circumstantial evidence we have,” Sheriff Meeks said.
There were about 750 people at the party when the police arrived, the sheriff said, but not many of the partygoers were cooperating with investigators.There were about 750 people at the party when the police arrived, the sheriff said, but not many of the partygoers were cooperating with investigators.
No officers were injured. The names of those killed and injured were not released. No deputies were injured. The names of those killed and injured were not released.
In addition to the 12 wounded by gunfire, two other partygoers sustained unspecified injuries. At an earlier news conference, officials said they believed the gunman had used a semiautomatic rifle, but they later said they believed it had been a handgun.In addition to the 12 wounded by gunfire, two other partygoers sustained unspecified injuries. At an earlier news conference, officials said they believed the gunman had used a semiautomatic rifle, but they later said they believed it had been a handgun.
The shooting took place in Greenville, about 50 miles northeast of Dallas, at a Texas A&M University-Commerce homecoming party that had not been sanctioned by the school, officials said. About five of those injured were students of the university, which is in nearby Commerce. The shooting took place at the Party Venue, a family-owned party hall near Greenville, about 50 miles northeast of Dallas, at a Texas A&M University-Commerce homecoming party that had not been sanctioned by the school, officials said.
The university did not respond to an email on Sunday morning. In a statement, the university president, Mark Rudin, said the shooting “has touched and saddened our university community.”
“Everybody just left as they could. There was a big scramble,” Deputy Oxford said of the shooting scene. “The rest of them just left on their own, went to the hospital to seek medical attention.” “There is a tremendous amount of misinformation revolving around this off-campus event,” the statement continued. “At this time, we can confirm four of our current students were treated and released from local hospitals. We are currently reaching out to these four affected students. We will continue to monitor this situation.”
The injured were from the Texas cities of Arlington, Commerce, Dallas, Fort Worth and Greenville, officials said. Donna Jackson, who owns and runs the Party Venue with her son, said the building had been rented to a group from the university that had rented the space for parties at least twice in the past without any problems. She could not recall the name of the group.
Those who contract to use the venue must provide security, she said.
Ms. Jackson learned about the shooting after a cousin texted her. She said videos of the carnage posted to social media have “shaken me to my core, to see the chaos going on in there.”
This was the second time that the police had responded to a shooting at the venue. Two years ago, Ms. Jackson said, a group rented space for a birthday party for which about 600 people showed up.
During that party, a woman was shot in the leg. Then, as now, partygoers were reluctant to speak with the police, she said. It’s part of the culture of the area, she said.
“That’s just their whole thing usually,” she said. “They don’t want to tell. They don’t want to cooperate.”
The Party Venue is a popular hall, Ms. Jackson said, noting that it is regularly booked on the weekend.
“My whole insides are just shaking, thinking something that bad happened that close to home,” she said. “You see it all the time, but when it’s so close to home — like I said, it’s making me nervous. I can barely talk or make sense.”
Aimee Ortiz contributed reporting.