Methuen police arrest five people at a 'car meet' less than a day after seven people were shot at an earlier gathering

Those arrested ranged in age from 17 to 24 and were not believed to have been involved in the previous incident, police said. They were charged with trespassing, police said, and one juvenile was released to his mother after police arrested him at the Methuen station.

According to police, all five vehicles were towed from the scene of the accident.

The arrests came just hours after seven people were shot and another injured during a gathering that turned violent early Sunday morning. Police said Sunday that two of the victims were in critical condition.

At a news conference Sunday morning, Methuen Police Chief Scott McNamara said the police department has been dealing with impromptu car parties for several years. He said the parties are usually organized through social media and involve large groups of young people playing loud music, drinking, dancing and vaping in empty parking lots.

Michael Keefe-Feldman, a spokesman for Essex District Attorney Paul Tucker, said Monday morning that there was no update on the investigation into the earlier shooting.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Daniel Kool can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @dekool01.