Two people were shot by police outside of an event billed as the “Muhammad Art Exhibit and Cartoon Contest” in Garland, Texas, Sunday night, according to Garland Mayor Douglas Athas, who added, “I believe they are dead.”
Athas said Garland officers returned fire when the two began shooting after they entered the parking lot of the event site. He said a security guard was shot in the leg and transported to a local hospital. His condition is unknown.
CNN producer Chris Lett, who was covering the event, said there were about 40 people gathered when police announced there had been a shooting.
Garland police officer Cliff Wise told CNN officers were investigating whether explosives were involved.
The event, sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, claimed to have received “over 350 submissions of Muhammad cartoons from all over the world.”
Athas told CNN that there was a significant police presence at the event and that it was “secured event.”