Five people suffered gunshot wounds, including three University of Iowa students, early Sunday morning when shots rang out during a large fight at a pedestrian mall in downtown Iowa City. Iowa City police responded to the 100 block of East College Street around 1:46 a.m. after reports of a brawl near the intersection of College and Clinton streets, a popular nightlife district close to campus.

Officers heard gunshots as they arrived at the scene, where social media videos showed crowds of college-aged individuals engaged in fights amid the pedestrian plaza filled with bars and restaurants. Multiple victims were transported to the University of Iowa Health Care for treatment. One remains in critical condition, while the other four are stable.

University President Barb Wilson confirmed that three students were among the injured. "Early today, a shooting in downtown Iowa City injured three University of Iowa students," she wrote in a message to the campus community. "Iowa City Police are investigating, with the full support of University of Iowa Police." Wilson expressed concern for the students and their loved ones, urging the community to care for one another and listing counseling resources.

No arrests have been made as of Sunday afternoon, and police described the incident as isolated with no ongoing threat to the public. Investigators released photos of five persons of interest, young men wearing athletic attire such as Nike jumpsuits, sweatpants, and sweaters, and are seeking public tips.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds called the event a "senseless act of violence" that devastated the university community and the state, pledging all state resources to aid the investigation. The university issued alerts advising people to avoid the area and stated there were no indications that the students were targeted.

The pedestrian mall, known locally as the Ped Mall, draws crowds of young people, especially on weekends, due to its bars, restaurants, and proximity to the University of Iowa, which enrolls over 30,000 students. Such shootings are rare in Iowa City, according to local community leaders.

The investigation continues, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.