Police say nine people were shot at a gathering in Sunnyslope early Saturday morning, leaving one woman dead and two victims with life-threatening injuries.

Phoenix police Sgt. Andy Williams says the investigation is still in its very early stages.

“With this many people involved, this many victims, casings all over the place, investigators are going to take some time to process the scene and get through all that physical evidence. Also talking to witnesses, looking for surveillance video,” said Williams.

Williams says the evidence indicates the shooter used a handgun. He says the shooting began after a fight escalated between multiple parties.

Police say the shooting began in an outlet mall parking lot and ended several blocks away.

“I don’t have any indication that anyone was chased. I think we had a lot of chaos going on at that initial scene, with the altercation that escalated into the shooting. You’ve got a lot of people in sort of a small area over there, I think everyone was just running, trying to get away from the area,” said Williams.

Phoenix City Councilmember Debra Stark called the event “deeply troubling” and said violence has no place in Sunnyslope’s neighborhoods.

Police are temporarily closing a stretch of Hatcher Road, from Seventh to 12th avenues, to look for evidence and speak to witnesses.