Iowa City, Iowa — A shooting during a fight in a nightlife area near the University of Iowa campus left five people injured early Sunday, including three students, police and university officials said.
Iowa City police said several victims were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds.
Police said one person was in critical condition while four others were in stable condition.
No arrests had been made as of Sunday morning, according to a campus alert. Police released photos of groups of people identified as persons of interest.
Police said officers were responding to reports of a large fight in downtown Iowa City near a pedestrian mall filled with bars and restaurants when they heard gunfire.
Videos circulated on social media showed several fights breaking out in front of an outdoor bar area, followed by a frightened crowd of dozens running away.
University President Barbara Wilson said three students were injured, and support was available to the campus community.
“As we await additional information, I am thinking of these students, their families, their friends and all the people who care about them. I include them in my thoughts, along with everyone in our community who is hurting or feeling shaken right now,” Wilson said in a statement.
The university has about 31,000 students.
“This senseless act of violence has devastated our university community and our state,” said Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who offered state assistance in the investigation.
The university issued several warnings advising students to stay away from the area. “While the investigation is still in its early stages, there are no indications that any college students were the intended victims,” one alert said.