At least 20 people have been wounded and one is known to have died following a mass shooting at a car show.
Arkansas State Police in the US were called to the town of Dumas at around 7.25pm after shots were fired at the Delta NEYO Hood-nic Foundation car show.
Video footage from the event shows people running in a panic after hearing shots ring out and there are photographs of a wounded man being carried away.
Local emergency services said that the shooting took place in a parking lot located on US-165 of a supermarket called the Mad Butcher.
Several people in the town, which is home to around 4,000 people and about 85 miles southeast from the state capital of Little Rock, have claimed on social media that children have been shot.
Andrew Epperson, a reporter for local news station KARK 4 News, said investigators have confirmed that “at least one person died” and “children were also shot”.
Arkansas State Police spokesperson Bill Sadler told the Mirror: "About 7.25pm tonight, Arkansas State Troopers of the Highway Patrol Division and Special Agents of the Criminal Investigation Division were dispatched to Dumas following an initial report of a shooting outside a local business where a car show was underway.
"Preliminary information provided to ASP is that as many as 10 people had been wounded by gunfire."
Dumas Police chief Keith Finch later told KATV that the number of wounded had risen to 20 and several of them are children.
Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin tweeted: “Saying prayers for entire Dumas community after tonight’s senseless & tragic shooting as families with young children gathered for community event on Sat. evening.
“God Bless the law enforcement officers who are on the scene responding.”
A reporter for Arkansas Online, Grant Lancaster, tweeted: "1 person in custody, preliminary reports indicate the number of wounded will rise."
It was the 16th meeting of the annual car show, according to the Delta Neighborhood Empowerment Youth Organization (NEYO) website.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the organisers said: "We are heartbroken and in shock at what took place during tonight’s car show.
"Several people were shot by an unknown suspect. The full extent of injuries has not yet been disclosed. State Patrol is currently investigating the situation.
"We will release more details as they come in. If you know anything, please report it to the authorities.
"The purpose of Hood-Nic has always been to bring the community together.
"This senseless violence needs to end. Sending our prayers."
Organiser Wallace McGehee told KATV: "We just want to send our prayers and all our condolences to our friends in the community - we're here with ya'll.
"We apologise for all this that happened. This never happened with us at our event, ever. It's a tragedy.
"We did this for 16 years without a problem and we want our community to come back, to be strong. We're gonna get through this."
