Several people have been hospitalised after gunfire broke out during a large-scale street fight at a popular outdoor mall close to the University of Iowa in the early hours of Sunday morning, with dramatic footage of the violence circulating widely on social media.
Iowa City Police Department said officers responded to reports of a mass brawl at the Pedestrian Mall at approximately 1.46am, arriving on the scene to find the altercation already under way — and then hearing shots fired. The Pedestrian Mall, a well-known entertainment and retail destination, sits roughly a mile east of the university campus across the Iowa River.
Videos shared online captured dozens of people exchanging blows during the confrontation, while separate clips showed crowds fleeing in panic as gunshots rang out. Unconfirmed reports suggest at least six people were taken to hospital, though police have not yet confirmed the precise number of victims or the severity of their injuries. No arrests have been announced.
University of Iowa officials issued a campus-wide Hawk Alert at around 1.50am warning students and staff of shots fired near the intersection of East College Street and Clinton Street. A follow-up alert posted shortly after 2am confirmed that first responders were on scene and that victims had been located, urging people to continue avoiding the area.
The investigation remains in its early stages.
