Boston, Massachusetts - At least seven people were wounded in a shooting that broke out during a parade in Boston on Saturday, police said.

Police responded to reports of gunfire around 7:44 AM, about an hour after the start of the J’ouvert Parade, held to mark the start of the city’s annual Caribbean Carnival, according to CNN.

When law enforcement arrived on the scene – on the corner of Blue Hill Avenue and Talbot Avenue in Dorchester – they found several victims suffering from gunshot wounds. They were all transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police Commissioner Michael Cox clarified the shooting was unrelated to the festivities and erupted on the outskirts of the event. He added that the parade was paused because of the gunfire.

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"It’s always heart-wrenching to hear that a treasured community event has been disrupted by acts of violence from those who had nothing to do with the event," Mayor Michelle Wu told reporters.

"And there’s no absolutely no excuse for something that is open to the community and part of Boston’s culture and heritage to be talked about in this way because of the acts that were introduced."

An investigation is still underway, but Cox said the incident seemingly involved "two groups having some type of altercation." So far, two people have been arrested and multiple firearms were recovered at the site of the shooting.

"As a result of officers responding very quickly to the scene they were able to run towards not only the gunfire but actually apply tourniquets and help to all the victims of the gunshots," Cox said.

The Caribbean Carnival, a daylong event dating back to 1973, typically draws thousands of revelers every year. The cultural celebration includes a steelpan competition and a masquerade ball, according to its website.

A second parade was scheduled for Saturday afternoon.