“A search is ongoing in eastern Texas for a gunman who opened fire at a Halloween party attended by ‘at least a couple hundred’ revelers, killing one and injuring nine,” reports ABCNews.

Holiday shootings are quickly becoming a key tradition for American red-state celebrations. “The shooting started around 11:56 p.m. Saturday at Octavia’s Activity Center in Texarkana, according to a statement Sunday morning from the Texarkana Police Department.”

Police officers arriving on the scene encountered large number of people running from the event venue, and several inside suffering from gunshot wounds. “The gunman left the venue in a vehicle, setting off a massive search in eastern Texas. A 20-year-old man, whose name was not immediately released, was mortally wounded and later pronounced dead at a hospital, police said. Nine other people wounded in the shooting were taken to Wadley Regional Medical Center and CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital by ambulance and private vehicles, authorities said. None of them initially appeared to suffer life-threatening injuries, police said.”

“Officer Shawn Vaughn of the Texarkana Police Department said numerous 911 calls were made, prompting all patrol officers working at the time to respond, while another patrol shift was summoned to handle calls on the street, according to ABC affiliate station KTBS in Shreveport, Louisiana.”

The shooting follows the recent passage of “Constitutional Carry” legislation in Texas. That bill, which was signed into law by failed Republican Governor Greg Abbott in June of 2021 allows Texas residents to purchase a handgun without any need for a handgun permit. Texas cities like Austin and Houston have reported record high homicide rates in 2021.