3 killed in shooting at Auburn University apartment complex

Three people were shot to death and three more were wounded after a fight broke out at a pool party at an apartment complex near Aubu University, police said. 

Two former members of Aubu's football team were among those killed, while one current player was wounded, Aubu Police Chief Tommy Dawson said. 

Ex-Tigers Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips, both 20, were shot to death, while reserve offensive lineman Eric Mack, also 20, was wounded and recovering at a hospital, police said. His injuries weren't life-threatening. 

The third person killed was Demario Pitts, 20, Dawson said. The two wounded besides Mack were identified as Xavier Moss and John Robertson. 

Dawson said a manhunt was underway for the shooter, identified as Desmonte Leonard, of Montgomery, who was charged with capital murder.

Dawson said Leonard fled the scene in a white Chevy Caprice with two other men, and the car was later found ditched in neighboring Macon County. 

"As you can tell, the community is shaken by this and grieving today," Dawson said at a news conference Sunday, according to The Associated Press. 

The three football players were part of the team's 2010 recruiting class, Al.com reported. 

Suspect: Police are now on the hunt for Desmonte Leonard, 22, who cops say gunned down three people and wounded three others

Christian, an offensive lineman from Valdosta, Ga., left the team because of a bad back, while Phillips, a running back from Roanoke, Ala., quit in the spring. 

Sources told AL.com that Mack "would be alright," and sports blogs, Twitter users and other local media reported that he sent out a tweet on Sunday that said, "I appreciate all the love and prayers for me and two lost homies. May god be with their families."

The Twitter handle said to be Mack's, @Mr_Showtime60, was private. Mack, from St. Matthews, S.C., wore jersey number 60 for the Tiger's football team, according to the team's website. 

"This is a sad, sad day for everyone associated with the entire Aubu family," Aubu football coach Gene Chizik said in a statement. "I am devastated by the passing of three young men, including two that I personally knew in Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips, and my heart goes out to their families."

Dawson said football had nothing to do with the shooting. 

Details were still murky, but WFSA television said the shooting happened between 10 and 11 p.m. on Saturday night at the University Heights apartments, where many Aubu athletes live. 

Witnesses said the shooting stemmed from a fight at the complex's pool.

"It went from us chilling with females to a massacre...for no reason," one person told the station.

Ladarious Phillips, left, and Ed Christian played football for Aubu, but were no longer on the team. (Aubu/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)

Turquorius Vines, 23, told The Associated Press that he was at the pool party when the fight started.

Vines said he and a friend got in an argument with two men he didn’t know over a woman.

Vines said he punched one man, while his friend attacked them with a bottle.

One or both of the men started shooting, and his friend was shot and killed, Vines said.

"It's like I lost a lung," Vines told the AP, describing his friend’s death. "I don't know how I'm going to survive this."

Vines said two others were also shot.

At least 10 police and rescue vehicles were still at the scene on Sunday moing and the complex had been cordoned off by police tape, WSFA reported.

Some residents who showed ID were let back into their apartments, according to local media.

Neither Aubu police nor the universities have officially commented on the shooting.

Police were due to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. Sunday, according to WTVM.

With News Wire Services

Many of Aubu's athletes live at the University Heights apartments. (AP)