BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA — Nine people were wounded in a mass shooting near Indiana University in Bloomington early Sunday morning, following the school's annual Little 500 races. Patrol officers monitoring crowds a block from campus heard gunshots around 12:25 a.m. and responded to the 400 block of East Kirkwood Avenue.

Officers arriving at the scene found five people who had been injured by gunshots or fragments of bullets, while several other people were hurt as they ran from the area. The victims were women between the ages of 17 and 22. All were treated and released, but one was hospitalized in stable condition. By 3 a.m., nine people had been taken to local hospitals, including six by ambulance. Officials did not release their conditions or types of injuries.

"It is believed that a fight broke out between two females near the front of the Five Guys restaurant on Kirkwood," Bloomington Police Chief Mike Diekhoff said. Multiple people were seen drawing handguns, but investigators believe two people opened fire. Investigators said the incident was not random, and no Indiana University student is believed to be involved.

In a statement, Indiana University said, "Last night marred what should have been a celebratory weekend for the IU and Bloomington communities." The university added, "Our thoughts are with the victims of this tragic incident. Safety remains our top priority and we remain in close coordination with local and state law enforcement."

Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson addressed proposals to restrict firearms at public events. "It has been suggested that we forbid guns from public gatherings in the future in Bloomington," Thomson said. "Unfortunately, Indiana gun laws prohibit such actions. And if the gun laws remain as they are, anyone can open carry. We encourage people not to bring guns to gatherings and we encourage you to speak up to those who can change our gun laws."

Indiana repealed its concealed carry permitting requirement in 2022 and does not require background checks or permits for handgun purchases at point of sale. The shooting occurred one week after a mass shooting near the University of Iowa, in which five people were wounded, including three Iowa students.