Authorities are investigating a mass shooting that killed two people and injured at least 11 others early Saturday morning in North Carolina.
By Hollie Silverman
Several of the victims are "critically injured," according to a press release issued by Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins.
"The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, along with multiple assisting agencies, is currently investigating a tragic shooting that occurred at a large party on Dixon Drive just outside of Maxton," Wilkins said in the release.
No information on a suspect or person of interest has been released, but Wilkins said there is no danger to the community as the incident is believed to be isolated.
Newsweek has reached out to Sheriff Wilkins by email Saturday for more information.
Why It Matters
The latest mass shooting highlights ongoing concerns of gun violence at large public gatherings, with another mass shooting happening just two weeks ago at crowded bar on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, that killed four people and injured numerous others.
Maxton sits just 10 miles north of North Carolina's border with South Carolina and has a population of just over 2,000 people according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
What To Know
During the shooting at a large party, two individuals were pronounced dead at the scene. Seven people remained in critical condition, while at least 11 suffered injuries, according to Wilkins.
Wilkins said in the sheriff office's press release that more than 150 people ran from the area before law enforcement arrived on the scene.
As of the latest updates, no suspects or persons of interest have been publicly identified or arrested.
Wilkins described the shooting as an isolated incident and affirmed that there was no ongoing threat to the wider community.
Law enforcement agencies—including local, state, and assisting federal partners—are actively investigating the motive behind the shooting and collecting evidence. The identities of the deceased and injured have not yet been released, pending notification of their families.