INDIANA, Pa. (AP) \u2014 One person was killed and eight were wounded in a shooting during a private party at a Pennsylvania community center early Sunday, authorities said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
State police in Indiana County said troopers, local officers and emergency services responded at 12:35 a.m. Sunday to the shooting at the Chevy Chase Community Center in White Township, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nine people between the ages of 18 and 23 were shot, including a 22-year-old Pittsburgh man who died at the scene, police said. Lt. Col. George Bivens said investigators believe more than one shooter was involved but declined to say how many there were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDozens of gunshots were fired within the confines of the building,\u201d said Bivens, acknowledging later that \u201cIt may well be that we had a gunfight inside this building.\u201d Many fired shell casings and \u201cmultiple firearms\u201d had been recovered, along with other evidence such as clothing and cellphones, he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bivens said, however, that officials believe events were \u201cisolated to the attendees at that party\u201d and did not believe the threat was directed at the community at large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bivens said police were originally called about midnight about excessive noise coming from the building, and patrol officers were assured that the noise would be turned down. A state police mounted unit was sent to monitor the situation and for crowd control if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon arrival, mounted unit members heard gunshots inside, called for backup, and then heard more gunshots and saw people fleeing from doors and windows. Some began to aid to injured people \u201ccollapsing outside the building,\u201d and others went inside and found more victims, Bivens said. No state police or horses were injured, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bivens said more than 150 people were believed to be present at the time of the shooting, and the building wasn\u2019t particularly large and would have been \u201cvery full\u201d at the time. When the shooting began, those inside \u201cexited that building in any way possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou can imagine the chaos that would ensue from a number of gunshots in a relatively confined space,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople dove through windows, people ran through doors, ran through porch railings, trying to get away from that scene.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n An 18-year-old man from Chicago was critically injured, and an 18-year-old man from Florida was also among the victims. The others who were shot were all from Pennsylvania: three men ages 19, 20 and 22; two 19-year-old women; and a 23-year-old woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The wounded were taken to Indiana Regional Medical Center in Indiana, Pennsylvania; UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Marcy in Pittsburgh; and Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown. Six remain hospitalized, one critically, while two had been treated and released, police said later Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Officials are tracking down who rented the venue for the party, which required payment of a fee before entry, and who was hosting the event, Bivens said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No suspects were in custody, and police asked anyone with information to contact troopers in Indiana County. Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers announced a $10,000 reward for information in the case leading to arrests and prosecution, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has offered up to $5,000 more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The shooting scene is about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, which was having its homecoming weekend. The school\u2019s vice president for student affairs, Thomas Segar, said two of the injured were students, and officials were working with their families to provide support. Campus activities were going on as scheduled with enhanced police presence, a university official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe understand that incidents like last night\u2019s violence are frightening and may cause continued feelings of fear and worry,\u201d Segar said, before providing information about mental health support and counseling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Neighbor Robert Miller said he and his wife heard loud music coming from the building as they were about to go to bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen all of a sudden, I heard about 20 gunshots,\u201d he told the Tribune-Review. \u201cThere was people lying on the edge of the sidewalk out there. It\u2019s terrifying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n His wife, Ellen Ober, said, \u201cThere were people everywhere crying and screaming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trooper Cliff Greenfield said investigators were trying to gather as much information as possible from witnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cClearly we have not been able to interview everyone who was there,\u201d he told the newspaper. \u201cPeople were fleeing the scene \u2014 it was a chaotic scene.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Chevy Chase Community Center was built in 1971 by a group established in 1969 to fight poverty and help those in need, according to its website. The center says its mission is to \u201ccultivate, nurture, and sustain a peaceful and inclusive culture that brings community together with positivity, diversity, inclusion, education, nutrition, and love.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi Jr., who is listed on the center\u2019s board of directors, said the center provided \u201cmeals and a community atmosphere for people in need\u201d and \u201chas served as a place to help members of our community for many decades.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Executive director Brandi Ports said on the center\u2019s Facebook page that officials are \u201cpraying for everyone involved\u201d and that the center would be closed until further notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlease be in prayer for those involved, for our community, and for our staff and volunteers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearby resident Lillian Clemons told the Tribune-Review that she is a former director of the center and that her brother is among the many people who get meals there. She said she believes the center shouldn\u2019t be rented out on what she called \u201ccrazy weekends\u201d such as homecoming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m about to cry. It\u2019s hurtful because everybody struggles to keep this,\u201d she said. \u201cThis was a service for the community. That\u2019s what we need it for, for the people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n