Mass Shooting at Ohio Nightclub as Multiple People Gunned Down

A mass shooting has reportedly taken place at a nightclub in Ohio, with at least two people believed to have been killed and several others injured.

The violence broke out at Avalon Dance Club in downtown Columbus in the early hours of Friday morning, local news station WBNS reported. The station quoted Assistant Police Chief Greg Bodker, who said a man was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:58 a.m.

Columbus police were called at about 1:45 a.m. before two people were taken to Grant Medical Center in critical condition. Another, reportedly in stable condition, was taken to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

One of the people in critical condition was reportedly pronounced dead at 2:45 a.m. The other's condition is believed to have improved. The victims' ages range from their 20s to their 40s.

Although investigations are ongoing, initial inquiries indicate that the shooting started from some kind of altercation.

Newsweek reached out to the Columbus police for comment.

The nightclub opened in 2014 at 205 North Fifth Street. It is a dance club, lounge, bar and restaurant and was intended to "cater to Columbus's young professional crowd that differed from the average club scene," then-manager Jena Dyke said.

Some 7,588 people have died from gun violence this year in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive. This includes homicide, murder, and unintentional and defensive gun use.

On Wednesday, three deputies from Dixon, Illinois, were shot and wounded while responding to reports of someone in a Lost Lake community threatening to kill themself or others.

"Immediately upon entering the house, our deputies received fire from inside the house," Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said. He went on to tell reporters that everyone injured is "in good condition."

The suspect, who was also shot, was later found to have had multiple firearms in his possession, as well as a fixed-blade knife, pepper spray and ballistic armor. Illinois State Police are handling the investigation.

The Associated Press has not yet named the suspect, who had surgery at a hospital, because there have been no charges.

Lost Lake has been described as "a country style community" by the property owner's association.

Update 6/14/24, 8:56 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.