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MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) – A shootout at an off-campus night near Ball State University in Indiana early Saturday left seven injured, including three seriously, police said.
It is unknown how many people could have opened fire, but the police said that a man was in custody. One of the wounded had to be airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital, about 80 km southwest of Muncie, said police chief Joe Winkle at WXIN-TV.
Winkle said that it seemed that the shooting had occurred after "some kind of confrontation inside the house". Some of the victims were students from Ball State, he said.
"I think every time you have a DJ and you learn that there is a party, you will attract a lot of different people from all over the city, so I think it's probably what that happened, "Winkle said.
VaShaun Harnett, 19, of Muncie, was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder, the police told The (Muncie) Star Press.
Harnett is not a Ball State student, said the university in a statement. One of the victims of the shooting was a student who was treated and discharged from a Muncie hospital, the statement said.
"Ensuring the safety of all members of our university community is a top priority," said University President Geoffrey S. Mearns. "This is a very unfortunate event and we wish all the victims a full and speedy recovery."
Stella East, a second-year Ball State student from Muncie, told The Star Press that she was in the backyard of the house when the shooting took place. She said that about 50 people were inside and 50 outside when a friend and she heard five to ten shots coming from inside the house. After a brief pause, they heard about 30 more shots, moving from the inside to the outside.
"Everyone ran in opposite directions when the shooting started, I just grabbed my friends and ran as far as I could." I tried to stay calm but I knew that it was very serious and I just had to move it away, "East said.
Vice President Mike Pence, who delivered the opening address Saturday at Taylor University, near Upland, commented on the shooting on Twitter.
"Landed in Muncie, IN this morning and was informed of the shooting last night," wrote the former governor of Indiana. "My prayers go to the wounded and their families, God bless them all."
Ball State launched an alert on campus soon after the shooting, warning members of the university community to stay away from the area.
The university said it was putting advisers at the disposal of the university community to help cope with the shooting.
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