1 dead, 8 injured after shooting at graduation party in Atmore

ATMORE, Ala. (WPMI) — One person is dead and eight others injured after a shooting at a graduation party that was fueled by alcohol early on Saturday, authorities said.

It happened at the Old Escambia County Middle School.

It all happened around 2 o'clock Saturday morning after a fight broke out inside.

"The shooter just started shooting and didn't stop you could hear pop, pop, pop, pop," says one woman who did not want to be identified.

A night of celebration turned deadly as gunfire erupted at an Atmore community center.

"For this young boy to lose his life it's a tragedy. The kids had to bust the windows out of the building with their hands and arms and building running for their lives because the gunshots were inside," she says.

Police say a fight broke out between two girls at the graduation party. While trying to separate them multiple shots were fired inside the building killing one teenage male. The suspects then fled to the parking lot and shot more innocent bystanders.

"They were screaming and everything and we could hear it. All over guns. where is security," she says.

One woman who did not want to be identified says it was a horrific scene and a shock to the community.

"I just cried. I just cried. I couldn't imagine it being my child. He is gone and all that his mother left is memories someone needs to be held accountable."

She says some of the kids are traumatized and the party should have never happened.

"Kids had blood splattered all over them. That's ridiculous. This should have been stopped a long time," she says.

She says just a couple of weeks ago a fight broke out during another teen party at the community center.

The neighborhood has been pleading to shut it down.

"For those kids to be running and screaming the way they were and gunshots going off it's not acceptable. We cannot allow our teens to keep doing this and we can't allow it to keep happening in the neighborhood. It is not acceptable. Every time there is a party there, every time there is a fight, but it took for someones child to die in order for someone else to hear what we been yelling this entire time. It's time to stop," she says.

Investigators ruled the case a homicide and continue to process evidence collected at the scene.

The alleged gunman is still on the loose. Atmore police are asking if you have any information to contact them immediately at 251-368-9141.