EDINBURG, Texas, June 1 (UPI) -- A gun battle erupted Saturday at an illegal cockfight in Texas after a man walked in and allegedly shot three people, police say.
Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino said an unidentified man returned after being ejected from the cockfight and allegedly opened fire on the crowd, hitting two men in the chest and a woman in her wrist, the Mcallen (Texas) Monitor said.
Trevino said several people immediately brandished their own firearms and shot at the man, who was being sought by police.
The sheriff said despite the scale of the shootings authorities were late getting word of the violence.
"The only reason we found out about it is because people showed up at the hospital with the bullet wounds," Trevino said. "The owner of the place obviously didn't call the cops. The hospital notified us."
Trevino told the Monitor he did not know the condition of the two men with chest wounds, but added the suspect in the shooting could face attempted homicide charges if caught.
