Police said the crowd gathered after dark at an unsanctioned event near Scissortail Campground.
EDMOND, Okla. — Authorities searched Monday for suspects after gunfire broke out at a large lakeside party near Arcadia Lake, injuring at least 23 people and sending victims to hospitals across the Oklahoma City area.
The shooting raised a fast-moving emergency at one of Edmond’s best-known recreation areas. Police said the event was not permitted or reserved and had been advertised across social media, drawing young adults from across the metro area. Several victims remained hospitalized Monday, including people listed in critical and serious condition. No arrests had been announced, and police said they were not releasing suspect information while investigators worked through witness statements, hospital reports and evidence from the scene.
Edmond police said officers were called just after 9 p.m. Sunday to Arcadia Lake near Scissortail Campground after several people called 911 to report shots fired. The gathering had begun after dark, police said, and drew a large crowd before gunfire scattered people through the park. Edmond police spokesperson Emily Ward said Sunday night that officers understood the fear surrounding the shooting. “This is obviously a very terrifying situation,” Ward said, adding that police were working to find the people responsible. Officers from Edmond responded with help from Oklahoma City police and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, while ambulances moved victims from the lake area to hospitals.
Police said about 23 people had been identified with injuries ranging in severity, including gunshot wounds. Officials had not said Monday how many of the injured were struck by bullets or how many may have been hurt while fleeing the scene. Integris Health said it treated 13 people at hospitals in Edmond and Oklahoma City, with victims ranging in age from 16 to 30. Ten were taken to Integris Health Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, and three were taken to Integris Health Edmond. Three people remained in critical condition and four were listed in serious condition at Integris facilities. OU Health said it received five patients at its trauma center but did not release details about their conditions.
The number of known victims rose Monday as more people sought treatment on their own after leaving the lake. Police said some injured people were transported from the scene by emergency crews, while others later arrived at hospitals without ambulances. The names of the injured had not been released. Edmond Public Schools and Oklahoma City Public Schools said they did not have reports of students being injured, according to local reports. Police also said there was no reason to believe there was an ongoing threat to the public. Still, investigators kept the area around Scissortail Campground blocked while they searched for shell casings, vehicles, phones, videos and other evidence tied to the shooting.
Arcadia Lake sits north of Oklahoma City in Edmond, a suburb of about 100,000 people. The lake is an artificial reservoir used for flood control, recreation and water supply, with campgrounds, picnic pavilions, a fishing pier, swimming beaches and boating areas. A social media flyer seen after the shooting described a Sunday Funday event near the lake with food, drinks and music scheduled until midnight. Police said the event was not an approved park gathering. Edmond Mayor Mark A. Nash called the shooting a tragedy and said the city was reviewing park operations, policies and security measures after the violence. Nash said Arcadia Lake remains a place where families hike, camp, fish and gather.
Police had not announced charges by Monday afternoon. In a written update, the Edmond Police Department said investigators were actively working the case and would share more information when appropriate. The department said it would not hold on-camera interviews Monday morning and expected to schedule a media briefing later Monday or Tuesday. The next steps include identifying suspects, confirming how many people were shot, sorting witness accounts and matching hospital reports with evidence from the park. Authorities also were reviewing the party’s online promotion, which may help show how the crowd formed and who was present when gunfire began.
The shooting left families searching for relatives late Sunday and early Monday. Police and emergency officials used a Walmart near Interstate 35 and 15th Street in Edmond as a reunification center after the gunfire, and the store later reopened. Witness Jason Hearne said he was nearby when the shots started and saw several people with leg wounds, along with a young woman who had a head wound and was still breathing. “These kids came out to have a, probably a good time,” Hearne said. “For this to break out, I know that wasn’t what they expected, and it’s just tragic.”
By Monday, police had identified at least 23 injured people and were still searching for suspects. The next public update is expected at a police briefing later Monday or Tuesday, as investigators continue work at hospitals, online and around Arcadia Lake.
Author note: Last updated May 4, 2026.