Three victims were injured after a gunman fired shots into a crowd of approximately 100 people on the 600 block of University Avenue early Saturday morning, according to a Madison Police Department report.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the incident occurred outside of Segredo and Johnny-O’s. He said the victims, a 26-year-old female, an 18-year-old male, and a 23-year-old male were treated for injuries and released from the hospital on Saturday. 

None of the victims are University of Wisconsin students, although all are from Madison, according to the MPD report. 

Verveer said MPD is investigating the possibility of a fourth victim due to a trail of blood leading away from the crime scene. He added that the incident was dangerous and should be taken seriously.

“I think it’s only by sheer luck that nobody was more seriously injured or killed as a result of this outrageous violence,” Verveer said.

According to the MPD report, the motive for the shooting is unknown at this time. The suspect is described as a black male between the ages of 20 and 25 and about 6 feet tall, the report said. 

Verveer said police have been studying footage from security cameras in the area to look for suspects. He added that MPD has heard several names of possible suspects, but do not have cause to arrest anyone yet.

Verveer said it has become very common and problematic for large groups of people to loiter in the area of the shooting. He said many of the people who gather outside the bars are the ones that engage in violence and other disturbances.

Dean of Students Lori Berquam said she was shocked to hear about the incident. She said it is concerning for the safety of students and the community, but that it will be safer once the potential suspect is detained.

“I’m grateful it’s an isolated incident,” Berquam said. “We need to be more careful and aware of what we do and how we do it, and how we keep ourselves safe.”

Associate Dean of Students Kevin Helmkamp said although Madison has experienced a spike in violence over recent years, the nature of the crime is unusual on campus.

He added that the randomness of the incident is most concerning from a university perspective, and that UW is putting educational efforts in place to make students aware of the crime.

“I think the violence of this event, firing a weapon into a group of people, is quite shocking for the Madison area and especially campus,” Helmkamp said. “We haven’t seen that before.”

Berquam added that there are not any “magic answers” for how students should protect themselves in the downtown area because the incident was such a random act of violence.

Verveer said the investigation is in its preliminary stage with many unanswered questions, but that students should continue to be even more vigilant than they already are when they are downtown at night.

Helmkamp also said there will be increased staff from the UW Police Department and MPD on campus until the police know more about the motives and nature of the incident.

“Clearly, the nature is such that the university will view this as having a direct effect on the student population,” Helmkamp said. “Being aware of your surroundings and making good decisions is the best you can do.”

Berquam said counselors at University Health Services are willing provide help to students who witnessed the incident or were impacted in any way.