Police in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, are investigating after seven people were injured in shootings Sunday night that appeared to be related, authorities said.
In a statement early Monday, Winston-Salem police said officers responded to gunfire reported at "multiple locations" Sunday.
"Preliminary information indicates the scenes are all related," said Kira Boyd, a police public information officer.
Boyd said all seven people injured in the shootings sustained "non-life-threatening injuries."
“This is an active, ongoing investigation and is not considered to be a random act of violence,” Boyd said.
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Police told NBC News affiliate WXII of Winston-Salem that officers were initially called to the 900 block of Bethlehem Lane at around 7:50 p.m. over multiple reports that shots had been fired.
Officers found more than 50 spent shell casings from different-caliber weapons, police said.
While they were investigating, officers got a report of two gunshot victims in their 30s at a nearby location. Officers found the two victims, who had suffered gunshot wounds to their heads and faces, WXII reported. They were transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
While they were assisting the two victims, officers were then alerted to four more victims who had been shot near the 2000 block of East 25th Street, close to Prince of Peace Baptist Church, WXII reported. Three people, ages 21, 31 and 31, were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while a fourth refused medical attention.
A seventh victim, age 24, was identified after having arrived at a hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso. Police said that victim appeared to have been shot in the 2000 block of East 25th Street.
Police provide no details about potential suspects or a motive.
The violence unfolded as the U.S. grappled with a string of mass shootings across the country.
On Sunday, one person was killed and five other people were injured in a shooting as Asian churchgoers convened at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods in Southern California.
In Buffalo, New York, 10 people were killed and three others were wounded at a supermarket Saturday in a mass shooting that authorities said was motivated by racism.
A mass shooting in downtown Milwaukee left at least 17 people wounded Friday night shortly after fans began leaving an NBA playoff game.
