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ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Seven people were shot following the Fourth of July fireworks show in Downtown St. Louis Thursday night.

“We needed to get out of here because there’s just way too many people. I’m so glad that we did that,” Marlen Sanchez, who attended the display, said.

Police say around midnight, gunfire broke out. Four people were shot on 8th and Pine, and three others were shot on Chestnut Street, including a 13-year-old.

“A scary situation. I just can’t believe it,” Sanchez said.

First Alert 4 spoke with one of the 911 callers who said, “I watched the switch from calm to war zone.”

“The failure to communicate about this mass shooting is really appalling,” says Ward 8, Alderwoman Cara Spencer.

Spencer represents the ward where the multiple-victim shooting occurred and blames Mayor Tishaura Jones for the state of downtown.

“We need an administration that says this is where the buck stops, and as mayor, the buck will stop with me,” Spencer said. “We don’t have the police presence we need downtown to keep it safe after hours. We are sitting here with 30% vacancy in our police department, and that’s unacceptable.”

“We have a lot going on. It isn’t that we are doing things to address the problem. I think we need to do more events,” says Wilford Pinkney of STL’s Office of Violence Prevention.

Pinkney says the city is giving $3.6 million to youth programs to help those 12-25 years old; however, he says his office can’t do it alone.

“This is a tragedy,” Pinkney said. “We need more people who are willing to engage with young people and adults who are actively involved in violence. We need more community organizations. We have to build up their capacity.”

Alderwoman Cara Spencer hopes to unseat the mayor and wants to implement an open carry law that would address firearms and juveniles.

“Most of the guns that we saw were long guns. They are not guns you can walk around within your back pocket or your backpack, says Spencer. We are taking them out the hands of those who are carrying them in an aggressive and very violent manner.”

‘I can tell you one thing tomorrow morning and tonight the people who are dedicated to decreasing violence in our city are going to go right back at it,” Pinkney said.

Mayor Tishaura Jones issued the following statement on Friday:

“What happened last night is a tragedy, and my heart goes out to all of the victims, their families, and the entire St. Louis community,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “The simple fact is this: there are too many guns on our streets. A small group of individuals with easy access to firearms have put a cloud over a day when thousands of residents got to enjoy their Fourth of July in downtown St. Louis safely. Chief Robert Tracy and the SLMPD have my full support as they conduct their investigation, and I encourage anyone with information to call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).”