Large Bremerton party erupts into fights, gunfire

KITSAP COUNTY -- A big New Year's Eve party at a Bremerton hotel turned bitter early Wendesday morning after party goers erupted into a fight that led to gunfire, Bremerton police said.

Police were called around 1:38 a.m. to the Baymont Inn in the 5600 block of Kitsap Way with reports of a large fight and shots fired. Arriving officers found "hundreds" of people at the hotel, police said, and located a man who had suffered a gunshot wound and a female who was assaulted.

Police quickly called for backup and tried to secure the area because many in the crowd were aggressive and hostile, and several smaller fights broke out when police arrived, officers said.

A man who fled the scene as soon as the police arrived was quickly arrested after being located by a Bremerton Police k-9 officer after crashing his vehicle. It was unknown if he was the shooting suspect. Two others were arrested for interfering with officers as they tried to disperse the crowd at the hotel and help the man injured from gunfire.

The condition of the victims were not immediately available Wednesday morning.

It is unknown what lead to the fight, police said. They are investigating the incident.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.