Update, June 8, 1 a.m. Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats confirmed that two teenage juvenile boys were shot at La Quinta on Saturday night.
She said she could not comment on their injuries due to medical privacy laws, but said the wounds did not appear to be life threatening. Both were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Police have not located a third gunshot victim, though one initially had been reported. Authorities have asked area hospitals to alert the Berkeley Police Department if they become aware of one.
[Update, June 8, 5:40 p.m.: Police said they ultimately determined there were two victims total at La Quinta on Saturday night. There was no update in their conditions available on Sunday afternoon.]
Coats said there is limited suspect information to release, but that police are looking for a white sedan that left eastbound on University Avenue from the La Quinta parking lot.
Officers worked the crime scene, canvassed the area and are interviewing witnesses and following up on leads.
The Berkeley Police Department asks anyone with information about the shooting to call 510-981-5900. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can reach Bay Area Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Update, June 8, 12:14 a.m. According to dispatchers, speaking to officers over the scanner, police received three calls reporting trouble at La Quinta on Saturday night.
The first call came in shortly before 9 p.m. reporting that some uninvited guests were trying to crash a quinceañera party in the community room at La Quinta. Shortly before 11 p.m., a hotel employee called police to report a fight among guests in the same area.
Several minutes later, police received a third call regarding possible gunshots at the hotel.
Police did recover shell casings in the parking lot in front of La Quinta. Police remain on scene at the hotel.
Berkeleyside is on scene at La Quinta waiting to speak with the Berkeley Police Department for confirmation. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Original story, 11:18 p.m. Berkeley authorities responded to Eighth Street and University Avenue in West Berkeley shortly before 11 p.m. and found two gunshot victims.
According to unconfirmed scanner traffic, one person had been shot in the face and one person had been shot in the leg. Both were taken by ambulance to a local hospital for medical treatment.
Authorities received a report of a third person who had been shot in the chest, but had not located anyone matching that description as of 11:15 p.m. They planned to call local hospitals to see if that person had gotten to the hospital in some other way, according to the scanner.
One local resident in the area reported on Twitter hearing “five or more rounds … fired in sporadic but very rapid succession.”
Police found a gun dumped in a garbage can behind La Quinta hotel at 920 University Ave. [Update, June 8, 4:30 p.m. Police found two replica firearms behind La Quinta, but did not recover any real weapons at the scene.]
Police searched the hotel to clear it for other victims.
Berkeleyside is heading to the scene and will confirm details with police as soon as they are available.
This story was updated as more information became available.
Related:
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Berkeley Police on 3 recent shootings: ‘Responding to these incidents is our top priority’ (03.28.14)
Update: Police respond to shooting in West Berkeley (03.25.14)
Update: 2 teens shot on Harmon Street in Berkeley (03.24.14)
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