Several people shot at cookout in Mattapan

MATTAPAN, Mass. (WHDH) -- Police continued to investigate Tuesday morning after three people were shot during a Memorial Day weekend cookout and fundraiser in Mattapan.

Hundreds of people scattered when the block party on Orlando Street turned violent.

“All I heard was three gunshots and before you know it everyone was running,” one witness said..

Boston police said three people were shot and two others were injured at around midnight. A 31-year-old woman who was shot in the stomach suffered life-threatening injuries.

“I was coming from down there because I walked somebody to their house and I came back and heard about three or four shots fired and everybody started running, so I just leave at the same time. I don’t know who got shot, I just left at the same time,” said Wayne Mendez, who attended the cookout.

Neighbors were hosting their third annual cookout to raise money for a friend’s family, who died two years ago.

“Music playing all day, kids riding their bikes, it really didn’t seem like something bad would happen,” said Tammy James, who attended the cookout. “It’s crazy.”

Investigators say four men were seen leaving the street. People at the party said the suspects looked like they didn’t belong and don’t believe the gunmen live close to the neighborhood.

“We don’t know if it’s anyone from this neighborhood because it’s really a safe neighborhood, you know,” said Tony, a neighbor.

“We don’t promote violence. It takes a person from another neighborhood to come around here and disturb a peaceful place here,” said Calvin Bailey, who attended the cookout.

Neighbors said they don’t know if the victims of the shooting live in the neighborhood because there were so many people in attendance.

Mayor Menino condemned the shootings and promised the neighborhood that the suspects would be found.