Regional police reported one person was murdered and seven others were injured in a shooting at a festival in the US state of Oklahoma.

"I have been informed of the shooting in Taft. I am grateful for OSBI_OK's [Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s] swift response to assist local police and am confident in Oklahoma law enforcement's ability to bring justice to whoever is responsible for this deadly incident," Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said in a statement on social media on Sunday.  

According to the OSBI, one person was murdered and seven others were injured during the events at the outdoor Memorial Day carnival near Taft on Sunday.

"A suspect in the deadly Taft shooting is in custody. An arrest warrant was issued for 26-year-old Skyler Buckner, who turned himself in at the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office at 4:05 p.m., today [21:05 GMT on Sunday]," the OSBI said.  

Law authorities reported that eight people were injured in the shooting; a 39-year-old lady died from her injuries at the hospital.

"The other seven injured range in age from 9 to 56. All are said to have non-life-threatening injuries," the OSBI said, specifying that one juvenile was injured in the shooting.

The investigators revealed that 1,500 individuals attended the annual Memorial Day ceremony at Taft's Old City Square on Sunday. According to witnesses, the shooting erupted following an argument.

The shooting came after a recent school shooting in Texas that killed several children and teachers.

Hours after the 18-year-old gunman killed at least 20 children and two adults at Uvalde elementary school in Texas, US President Joe Biden addressed the nation, focusing on tighter gun control laws.

Gun violence

It is worth highlighting the worrying statistics on gun violence in the United States. According to data presented by the research group, Gun Violence Archive, over 140 mass shootings have taken place in the United States so far in 2022. 

"Mass shootings - 144, mass murders - 5," the Gun Violence Archive said.

According to the organization, more than 11,700 people have died by firearms since the beginning of the year in the United States, including suicides.