Many of the victims, four men and four women, staggered into nearby hospitals overnight.
The section of /*Paterson*/ where the shootings took place is reportedly well known for drugs and crime, but many residents were still shocked at the Wild Wild West-like incident.
Shots were fired from a car as it passed the intersection of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Governor Street just before 10:30 p.m. A group of people were standing outside, enjoying the warm evening.
One man was struck multiple times and rushed to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in critical condition. Five others, many found in the vicinity by responding officers, were also taken to the Paterson hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Another shooting victim was found on Carroll Street, and the eighth on Godwin Avenue.
Those two victims took themselves to St. Joseph's Wayne Hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds.
The suspect fled the scene in a tan mini-van with a stripe. No arrests were immediately made.
The motive for the shootings was not immediately known.
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