A terrifying burst of gunfire shattered a Mother’s Day evening in New Jersey after a mass shooting near a busy intersection left two people dead and four others wounded, according to authorities.
Police rushed to the scene around 8:26 p.m. Sunday after reports of multiple shots fired near Rosa Parks Boulevard and Godwin Avenue in Paterson, a city roughly 20 miles outside New York City.
When officers arrived, they discovered six victims suffering from gunshot wounds scattered around the area.
All six victims were rushed to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center, but two men — a 43-year-old and a 29-year-old, both from Paterson — later died from their injuries.
The other four victims were reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities have not publicly identified the victims and have not announced any arrests as investigators continue searching for whoever opened fire.
According to local reports, the shooting happened outside a liquor store and may have been a drive-by attack. Police reportedly marked dozens of shell casings and pieces of evidence scattered across the street as the investigation unfolded.
Graphic footage from the chaotic aftermath reportedly showed multiple victims lying on the ground while panicked screams filled the area.
“Help my brother!” one person could reportedly be heard yelling as police swarmed the scene.
Paterson Councilman Alex Mendez said he and volunteers working nearby were forced to run for cover when the gunfire erupted.
“Multiple people got shot right here,” Mendez told local reporters. “My office is a block away from here. We hear the shooting, so it’s scary. This city’s out of control.”
He later added, “This city is not safe at all. It’s unacceptable. Every other week, we’re getting a shooting.”
Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh called the violence a “senseless act of gun violence” and said the city has been working to reduce shootings in recent years.
Still, the deadly attack has rattled residents, especially after reports that this was the second mass shooting in Paterson within about a month.
Investigators say the case remains active and ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.