At least six people were shot dead in the city of Sacramento, California. Ten other people were injured, Sacramento Police Chief Kathy Lester said. At around 2 am on Sunday, the police were called because of gunshots in the center of the city. Security forces found a crowd and several victims. They are looking for suspects and asking the public for information.
Lester did not comment on the background to the crime or further details. In a first tweet about the incident, police urged residents to avoid the downtown area. Emergency services were on site with a large contingent.
The crime took place in downtown Sacramento, which is home to many bars and restaurants. A video was posted on the Internet showing a fight between several people on a street. When shots are heard, the crowd disperses and people flee in panic. The authenticity of the recordings could not be verified initially.
Multiple-kill firearm attacks occur repeatedly in the United States. According to a count by the Gun Violence Archive website, around 45,000 people were killed by gun violence across the country last year. Suicides were also counted. Since the beginning of the year, the site has recorded 10,700 deaths.
The right to bear a weapon is a highly controversial issue in the United States. Attempts to tighten lax gun laws repeatedly fail due to resistance from conservative Republicans and the influential gun lobby.