Detroit: A violent altercation at an illicit after-hours strip club erupted into gunfire early Sunday morning, leaving three men dead and four others wounded in a residential Detroit neighborhood.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison confirmed that officers responded to the shooting around 7:21 AM on a predominantly residential street. Upon arrival, police located three men who had succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds.

Four additional victims—two men and two women—suffered injuries and were transported via private vehicles to local hospitals for treatment. Chief Bettison noted that all seven individuals involved are believed to be in their 20s and 30s.

"A fight occurred, an altercation occurred, and as a result individuals decided to settle it with gun violence," Bettison told reporters at a Sunday news conference.

Investigating officers revealed that the venue had been on law enforcement's radar prior to the fatal incident, having generated seven separate police calls earlier this year.

"This address is not new to the Detroit Police Department," Bettison said. "This was an after-hours location. Imagine a strip club. … I'll leave it at that."

While Chief Bettison stated that investigators have solid leads in the case, he declined to share further details to protect the ongoing inquiry.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield joined police leadership at the briefing, appealing directly to the public for assistance in solving the crime and curbing community violence.

"We know that we need more people to speak up to bring justice to the situation," Mayor Sheffield said. "It's heartbreaking and our community should not suffer from this type of violence." (AP)