‘At least 60-70 rounds fired’ in drive-by shooting during South Carolina high school graduation party, police say

At least 60 rounds of gunfire were unleashed in a drive-by shooting during a high school graduation party in South Carolina over the weekend, leaving at least one person dead.

Around 150 people were gathered together outside for the festivities in Summerton on Saturday when the violence unfolded. According to a press release from the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office, a pair of vehicles approached the party and then the suspects inside opened fire on revelers relaxing on the lawn.

“There were at least 60-70 rounds fired at this incident,” Sheriff Tim Baxley said in a news release. “This appears to be a gang related incident stemming from previous drive-by shootings in other parts of the county.”

A total of seven people were shot, including a 12-year-old, a 14-year-old, two 15-year-olds and a 17-year-old. One of the adults struck in the chaos, a 36-year-old woman, succumbed to her injuries the following morning while a 32-year-old man was also left hospitalized.

Authorities said it does not appear the gunfire was intended to target any one person in particular. It also remained unclear whether anyone at the scene returned fire or if all the shots were fired from within the two cars.

The incident is the latest to rock the nation, already reeling amid an uptick in mass shootings and gun violence.

The graduation party shooting came the same weekend three people were fatally gunned down in Philadelphia’s entertainment district. At least another 11 people were wounded in the violence Saturday on South Street. On the same day in Chattanooga, Tenn., three more people were shot and 14 left wounded.