A party inspired by the movie “Project X” has resulted in a fatally shot partygoer in Texas, according to police.
An estimated crowd of between 500 and 1,000 persons attended the house party set in an unoccupied assisted-living facility in Houston. The event was based on the recently-released movie in which three high school students throw a party that spirals out of control.
The gathering was one of many that have occurred nationally, inspired by the low-budget movie which has been critically panned but financially successful.
The Houston party, touted on social media web sites as a rave, attracted both high school students and college-age young adults, witnesses said. Daniel Menjivar, a 22-year-old college student told ABC News that the popularity of the movie and the fact that it was happening when many young people are on spring break was the reason the party was so crowded.
“The house got pretty full. You could barely move around,” he said.
Reports say police arrived at the house after neighbors complained about the noise. Officers arrived to assist security guards in dispersing the crowd. The building, site of previous parties, was designed as an assisted-living center but had become the subject of foreclosure proceedings and was unoccupied.
“Then, about 30 minutes later, all hell broke loose — gunfire,” said neighbor Amos Miles to ABC affiliate KTRK.
Party attendee Willie Armstrong told KTRK that he witnessed the shooting.
” was just walking, and he pulled out a gun and started shooting, like for no reason,” Armstrong said. “He shot the boy in the back of the head and he fell on the ground by the car. He started shooting at the crowds, but then he ran through the field.”
According to the Houston Chronicle, police say there could have been more than one shooter involved in the incident and no suspects have been identified yet.