A deadly shooting erupted at a restaurant in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday evening, leaving three individuals dead and five others wounded, according to police reports.
The shooting occurred around 7:45 p.m., just northwest of Phoenix, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement.
Officers arrived to a chaotic and widespread crime scene, described as overwhelming by Glendale police spokesperson Moroni Mendez.
Authorities suspect multiple assailants were involved in the attack.
Although several people were taken in for questioning, no arrests had been made as of late Sunday.
Importantly, no law enforcement or security officers discharged their weapons during the incident.
“There’s no indication of an ongoing threat to the public,” Mendez assured during a media briefing.
This incident is one of nearly 100 mass shootings recorded in the U.S. so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines mass shootings as those where four or more people, excluding the attacker, are injured or killed.
The motive behind the shooting remains uncertain.
Police are urging witnesses or anyone with relevant information to come forward as investigators continue piecing together the timeline and relationships between the victims.
The injured individuals sustained wounds from bullets and shrapnel, but it’s not yet clear if any of them were acquainted, Mendez added.
“We’re still working to determine whether they were friends, family, or strangers caught in the wrong place,” Mendez said.
“We want to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted for the sake of the victims.”
Eyewitnesses recalled harrowing scenes. “I saw someone on the ground,” a bystander named Rodriguez shared.
“A man was shouting his son’s name… it was heartbreaking.”
Authorities expect the investigation to continue well into the following day as the crime scene is processed and evidence collected.