From Dallas to Delaware: Halloween weekend shootings leave 6 dead, dozens injured across US
At least six people were killed and dozens injured in a series of shootings across the United States over the Halloween weekend, with several incidents reported in nightlife districts and near college campuses, officials said.
Dallas witnessed the deadliest violence, with four people killed and 15 others injured in multiple shootings in the city's Deep Ellum neighbourhood, known for its music venues and restaurants.
Police in college towns including Fayetteville in Arkansas, Birmingham in Alabama, Newark in Delaware and Bloomington in Illinois also reported shootings in areas popular with nightlife crowds.
Multiple shootings in Dallas
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said investigators were examining whether three separate shootings in Deep Ellum on Saturday night, within a span of about an hour and 15 minutes, were connected. The motive behind the incidents remained unclear.
Several arrests had been made, but Comeaux did not disclose the number of people detained or the charges they might face.
“This is a really big scene. It's spread out,” he said.
Police presence in the neighbourhood had been increased ahead of the weekend. No police officers were injured in the shootings.
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One killed, eight injured in Birmingham
In Birmingham, one person was killed and eight others wounded in two separate shootings near Legion Field on Saturday night, following the annual Magic City Classic football game.
Mayor Randall Woodfin confirmed the casualties at a news conference on Sunday. Two of the injured were in critical condition, fire officials said.
The game between archrivals Alabama State and Alabama A&M attracted nearly 70,000 spectators. Alabama A&M won the contest 31-28.
Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett said most spectators and families had left the stadium grounds when the first shooting occurred near vendors along Graymont Avenue. The circumstances surrounding the incidents, including the exact location of the fatal shooting, remained unclear.
Police spokesperson De'Rell Freeman said one person had been detained and multiple weapons recovered.
Six shot near University of Delaware
In Newark (New Jersey), six people were shot late Saturday near the University of Delaware campus, police said.
Newark Police Lieutenant Greg D’Elia said all six victims were taken to hospitals.
Videos shared on social media showed people running from the scene. A section of Main Street remained closed for several hours following the shooting.
The university said it would share updates on the investigation through its online platforms.
Fatal shooting near Illinois university
A shooting early Sunday in Bloomington, Illinois, left a 19-year-old woman dead and another woman in critical condition. Six others sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The incident occurred near the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University. Bloomington is around 135 miles (217 kilometres) southwest of Chicago.
In Fayetteville, Arkansas, six people were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds after a shooting early Sunday near the University of Arkansas.
Police said no arrests had been made. A preliminary investigation indicated that an altercation preceded the shooting.
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Two killed in Spirit Halloween store shootings
The weekend violence also included two fatal shootings on Friday at Spirit Halloween stores in California and Michigan.
In Fairfield, California, police described the shooting inside a store as a targeted attack. A 31-year-old woman was killed, and six others were injured. Family members told police that the woman was pregnant. No immediate arrests were reported.
In Madison Heights, Michigan, north of Detroit, a 21-year-old man was fatally shot on Friday afternoon. A man assaulted by bystanders as officers took him into custody was hospitalised with injuries that were not life-threatening.
(With AP inputs)