Seven hurt in melee in Mt. Laurel

Seven people were injured in a melee early yesterday morning marked by shootings, stabbings and one stampede injury during a party at a Mount Laurel skating rink.

Police said the commotion and panic began when someone fired several gunshots inside the International Sports Center on Hovtech Boulevard. The initial ruckus was followed by several fights and a stampede.

Police refused to release the names of the injured but said that two went to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, three to Cooper University Hospital and two to Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center.

Four of the seven suffered stab wounds after fighting broke out among some of the close to 400 attendees at the party at the skating rink. Two people were shot and one person was injured during the stampede. The injured were from Willingboro, Edgewater Park, Pemberton, Lawnside and Woodland and ranged in age from 18 to 24, police said. None of the injuries were said to be life-threatening.

No suspects were in custody yesterday, police said.