5 People Shot At East Texas Trail Ride: Police

SMITH COUNTY, TX — Five people were shot at a trail ride event in East Texas early Sunday morning, a Smith County Sheriff's Office spokesperson confirmed to Patch.

The victims were taken to hospitals in Longview, Kilgore and Tyler, with one airlifted with serious injuries after being shot in the face. Only one person remains hospitalized and is in critical but stable condition, authorities said.

The shooting occurred around 12:35 a.m. Sunday in a pasture in eastern Smith County near Winona at an event hosted by Unified Elite Riderzz, a group from Marshall. The initial altercation occurred near a concert stage, with one or more trail ride groups shooting into the crowd, and a second shooting occurred after people at the event retrieved their firearms from a security checkpoint, according to police.

A third shooting occurred after law enforcement were on site, but police believe all injuries occurred in the first shooting. Police spoke with witnesses and have identified several people of interest they intend to interview.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are attempting to identify suspects, according to police.

Authorities urge witnesses or anyone with information on the shooting to call the Smith County Sheriff's Office Emergency Operations Center at (903) 566-6600.