Authorities said that one person was killed and five others were injured when a gunfight erupted outside a downtown Kansas City, Missouri, bar, prompting three off-duty police officers working security at the establishment to return fire.

Iran PressAmerica: Every year thousands of people lose their lives or get wounded by gunshot attacks. Based on official statistics there are around 270 to 300 million guns in the US, which is almost one gun for every American. 

In 2020 alone, 19,384 people were killed in gun homicides, showing a 35 percent increase from the previous year and the largest one-year increase in gun homicides on record.

The mass-casualty shooting was condemned by Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who in an interview Monday with ABC affiliate station WMBC in Kansas City said the episode appeared to be the result of "dramatic Wild West-type behavior."

"We had off-duty police officers who were there, security guards who were there and there's still people shooting back and forth at each other a few feet away from police officers," said Lucas, who visited the White House Monday for a previously planned forum on how to curb rise in gun violence across the nation.

Related News:

US congress passes first major federal gun safety legislation in decades

Sunday's shooting unfolded around 11 p.m. outside a bar in Kansas City's Westport entertainment district, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol, which is leading the investigation.

A disturbance broke out inside the Westport Ale House and at some point spilled outside, where investigators believe multiple people engaged in a gunfight in which numerous shots were fired, Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Bill Lowe said during a news conference.

206

Read More:

US shooting: 3 Kentucky police officers killed, several hurt

Chicago shooting leaves at least six dead and 16 hospitalized