MADISON, Wis. — At least 12 people were injured during a shooting at a party early Sunday morning in Madison, according to Madison Police.
Police said no arrests have been made.
The incident occurred around 12:45 a.m. on Sunday at Yugo Madison Lux apartment complex, located on Johnson Street.
Police said they were initially sent to the scene for reports of a large party taking place on the rooftop of the apartment building. However, when they arrived, dispatchers alerted them shots had been fired.
When officers approached, they said “dozens of people were screaming and running out of the building.”
In response, officers ran up 12 flights of stairs to help people.
Police said more than 25 people were at the “sneak bash,” or an unauthorized party in a private space.
Police said at least 12 people, ranging in age between 14 and 23, were hurt, but that not all of the injuries were gunshot wounds. Police said 10 of those injured had gunshot-related wounds. Another was injured from broke glass and another suffered a shoulder injury while trying to escape. None of the injuries were life-threatening, according to police. At least two remained in the hospital as of Monday morning.
“It is truly a miracle that no one is dead,” Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said at a news conference. “As a community, our hearts are hurting.”
Justin Schultz, a tenant at the apartment building, said he was concerned but not surprised about the incident.
“I think because of the lack of security here, it more than likely was going to happen here,” he said.
Police said there have been 453 calls for services at the Lux since 2016.
No arrests have been made as of 10:30 a.m. Monday but police said they believe it was a targeted incident. Police said the suspect is still at large. The area surrounding the shooting was shut down for several hours but has since been reopened.
Police said the Violent Crime Unit is leading the investigation and detectives are conducting interviews and reviewing evidence.
Police thanked EMS with the Madison Fire Department for providing care to the victims.
In response to the shooting, the University of Wisconsin-Madison said it will offer “sympathy and concern for those injured, along with resources and support to UW students who may have been impacted.”
No one affiliated with the university is believed to be involved in the incident.
Barnes said the incident comes as Madison Police had reported a five-week streak with a historic drop in shot fire calls. It was also amid a “violent weekend” in the state’s capital city.
On Friday evening, a 27-year-old man was killed in an altercation outside Crystal Corner Bar. Two were also injured Sunday evening around 10:46 p.m. near Trafalger Place and Andrew Way. Police were called to the scene after reports of 20 shots fired. At least three vehicles were hit as a result of the incident, according to police.
“The violence in Madison is not acceptable,” Barnes said at a Monday morning press conference. “And it is not the Madison we all know and love.”
Resident Hernandis Burks has lived in Madison for 30 years. He said even with the recent shooting, he feels Madison is a safe place.
“Watching YouTube all day every day, that is not going to do it. That is where they are getting all of the knowledge about guns and kills and all this stuff,” said Burks. “ It is poisonous, and we need to get more hands-on with our kids.”
Burks said two of his cousins were injured during the mass shooting on Sunday at the Lux rooftop party.
“I know one of my little cousins who got injured, it was probably her first time ever being outside without her mom being with her, so it is kind of a shell shock,” said Burks.
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said the violence needs to end.
“An otherwise beautiful weekend in Madison was marred by three unacceptable acts of gun violence in our public spaces,” she said at a press conference.
Rhodes-Conway called on legislators to “put aside partisan politics” to enact gun safety measures.
“Guns are not a solution to conflict,” she said. “And we must stop normalizing their use and their accessibility. The families impacted by these events will never be the same.”
Barnes said the the community also needs to do their part in making sure guns are properly stored and used.
”It starts with people being responsible for these tools of destruction and understanding that it does take a certain amount of respect for that particular weapon if you have it,” said Barnes.
Police ask anyone with cellphone video from Sunday or anyone with information to contact Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014 or online at p3tips.com. Police said information can be shared anonymously and that any tips could be eligible for a monetary reward if they lead to an arrest.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.