AUBURN, Ala. -- A gunman opened fire during a fight at a party at an apartment complex near Auburn University, killing three people, including two former college football players, authorities said Sunday.
Three others were injured, with one in critical condition with a gunshot to the head.
Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said during a news conference that current football player Eric Mack was among those wounded and was being treated at a hospital. Authorities were searching for the shooter.
Slain were Edward Christian, who had not been playing because of a back injury, and Ladarious Phillips, who had quit playing football. The other person killed was 20-year-old Demario Pitts.
Officials also said Xavier Moss and John Robertson were wounded. Robertson had been shot in the head and was in critical condition; Moss was released from the hospital.
The suspect, Desmonte Leonard, has been charged with capital murder and has not yet been captured, police said. Dawson urged Leonard to turn himself in and also said authorities were searching for two other people of interest.
The U.S. Marshals Office and Montgomery police are leading the investigation.
"We're hoping to make an arrest today," Dawson said Sunday.
Leonard was arrested in 2009 for second-degree assault and booked in 2008 for theft and possession of a gun without a license. He also has been arrested for failure to pay child support.
Dawson stressed that the football team was connected to the shooting only because current and former players were victims.
"Them being football players really has nothing to do with this. They're victims of a shooting," Dawson said.
Turquorius Vines, 23, said he was at the pool party Saturday evening at the University Heights apartments with his friend Pitts. He said he and his friend were approached by two other men who started arguing with them over a woman.
Vines said he punched one of the men, while Pitts hit both of the men over the head with a bottle. Either one or both of the two men then started shooting, he said. He said Pitts was shot and killed, while two others also were hit by gunfire.
"It's like I lost a lung," Vines said of his friend. "I don't know how I'm going to survive this."
Gannett News Service contributed to this report.
Three others were injured, with one in critical condition with a gunshot to the head.
Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said during a news conference that current football player Eric Mack was among those wounded and was being treated at a hospital. Authorities were searching for the shooter.
Slain were Edward Christian, who had not been playing because of a back injury, and Ladarious Phillips, who had quit playing football. The other person killed was 20-year-old Demario Pitts.
Officials also said Xavier Moss and John Robertson were wounded. Robertson had been shot in the head and was in critical condition; Moss was released from the hospital.
The suspect, Desmonte Leonard, has been charged with capital murder and has not yet been captured, police said. Dawson urged Leonard to turn himself in and also said authorities were searching for two other people of interest.
The U.S. Marshals Office and Montgomery police are leading the investigation.
"We're hoping to make an arrest today," Dawson said Sunday.
Leonard was arrested in 2009 for second-degree assault and booked in 2008 for theft and possession of a gun without a license. He also has been arrested for failure to pay child support.
Dawson stressed that the football team was connected to the shooting only because current and former players were victims.
"Them being football players really has nothing to do with this. They're victims of a shooting," Dawson said.
Turquorius Vines, 23, said he was at the pool party Saturday evening at the University Heights apartments with his friend Pitts. He said he and his friend were approached by two other men who started arguing with them over a woman.
Vines said he punched one of the men, while Pitts hit both of the men over the head with a bottle. Either one or both of the two men then started shooting, he said. He said Pitts was shot and killed, while two others also were hit by gunfire.
"It's like I lost a lung," Vines said of his friend. "I don't know how I'm going to survive this."
Gannett News Service contributed to this report.