Police responded to fights in progress after gunshots were reported around 2 a.m. Saturday near the intersection at First Street and Grant Avenue.

Tweets from Coles County Scanner Feed Co-Administrator Chris Hanken said Mattoon police were assisting the Charleston Police Department who were handling fights in progress at a party of approximately 300 people.

Charleston police could not confirm details and said to call for information on Monday.

Dane Sauer, a senior finance major, said he heard what sounded like gunshots early that morning.

“I was sitting out on my porch. I heard two gunshots go off; people were saying it was just fireworks,” Sauer said. “Two minutes later there were three more gunshots that went off.”

Sauer said he saw a large group of people running down the street and through yards.

Jake Haberer, a junior communication studies major, said he walked over to see what was happening when police officers ushered him back to his house.

Haberer said people who attended the party began to run through yards away from the party’s location when they heard what sounded like gunshots.

“(Police) asked us if we saw where they went and we said they went over there,” Haberer said, pointing in the direction of Old Main.

More information will be shared as it becomes available.

Mackenzie Freund can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected]