AUBURN, AL (RNN) -?A manhunt is under way in Auburn, AL, after?three were shot to death late Saturday night at an apartment complex near Auburn University. Two of the victims were former Auburn football players.
Police also?are searching for two people of interest, but they declined to release their names.
Six people were shot after an argument at a party at the University Heights apartment complex, just a mile and a half from the Auburn campus.
Former Auburn offensive lineman Ed Christian, 20, and fullback LaDarious Phillips, 20, were both shot to death. Christian had been playing with the team, but left because of injury and was found?dead at?the scene. Phillips was pronounced dead at the East Alabama Medical Center.
Auburn resident DeMario Pitts, 20, was also killed.
Another player set to join the team's offensive line, 20-year-old Eric Mack, was among the injured, although he is expected to survive. Xavier Moss, 19, was treated and released. John Robertson, 20, is still struggling for life at the UAB Medical Center with critical injuries.
"It was a fight that obviously someone got out of hand and shot and killed three people and critically injured another," Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said at a press conference.
Police are searching the Montgomery, AL, area for Desmonte Leonard, 22, who has three warrants for capital murder as a result of the deaths. He was last seen on foot. Police warn they expect he is armed and "extremely dangerous."
"Hopefully we'll make an arrest sometime today," Dawson said.
Police said they had found a possible motive, but would not discuss the details of the case.
The U.S. Marshals are offering a $5,000 for information leading to the capture of Leonard, and the FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Leonard's conviction.
A witness to the shooting told Birmingham's WBRC the fight had started over a woman.
The shooting occurred around 11 p.m. Saturday at the apartment complex, home to many of the school's students and athletes.
Montgomery's WSFA reported the shooting took place near the complex's clubhouse.
"It went from us chilling with females to a massacre ? for no reason," an unidentified witness told Montgomery's WSFA.
Despite early speculation that Auburn University football players may have opened fire at the party, Dawson told the press, "The only connection that the Auburn football program has to this is that they are victims of a brutal shooting."
Various faculty, staff members, students and fans have expressed grief and disbelief over the shooting.
"I am devastated by the passing of three young men, including two that I personally knew in Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips," Auburn football coach Gene Chizik said in a statement. "We have a lot of people on our football team that are hurting right now and we're going to do everything we can to help them get through this. We are relieved that Eric Mack, who was also a victim in this incident, is expected to make a full recovery."
"We're deeply saddened about last night's tragic events that impacted the Auburn community and the Auburn family," Auburn University President Jay Gogue said in a statement. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victims and their families. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers."
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