Two people in Texas were shot after a fight escalated during a weekend event in Crystal Beach, local authorities said.

According to officials, a shooting incident broke out when two women began fighting on Crystal Beach just before midnight Saturday. Two unidentified men got involved in the altercation when one of the men started shooting, hitting two people.

The incident reportedly happened during an annual Jeep Weekend event in Bolivar Peninsula. The injured men were airlifted and rushed to the University of Texas Medical Branch. The men underwent surgery on Sunday. Their conditions are unknown.

Local police officers arrested more than 180 attendees of the annual "Go Topless Jeep Weekend" which usually draws thousands of Jeep fans and owners. According to police records, the arrests were for misdemeanour charges, including driving while intoxicated.

The event pushed through despite a ban on gatherings. The Galveston County Sheriff's Office added 40 public safety officers in an effort to bolster its patrol.

In 2019, the Go Topless Jeep Weekend event resulted in more than 600 calls for police between May 23 to 25. Over 305 people were also booked in the Galveston County Jail for alcohol-related and DWI charges.

Local authorities reported ten major auto-pedestrian accidents as well as eight car crashes and 14 other minor accidents. According to the reports, the numbers only covered May 24 and 25.

On May 25, 2019, Saturday, county officials called the Texas Department of Public Safety for backup after a man and women needed to be transported to the hospital by LifeFlight. The man reportedly fell out of a truck while the woman was involved in a head-on collision.

Another attendee, a 21-year-old, barely survived after he fell off the pickup truck he was riding. The same truck ran over him. The victim, who was identified as Tanner Francis, suffered multiple skull fractures. The base of his brain was also broken. He also suffered nerve damage, bruising and damage in his lungs.

First responders reportedly told his family he might not survive. His incident also resulted in fights and wrecks after other attendees stood around the victim and took a video of the incident.

The number of 911 calls, arrests, and accidents forced many Crystal Beach residents to start a petition to end the annual event.

Crystal Beach resident Daniel Wilson started a petition on Change.org where he claimed the event has become more dangerous in recent years. The danger has affected the people attending the event as well the as people living in the Crystal Beach community, he said.

Wilson also revealed he reached out to the Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. He said he hopes they will support the campaign to end the event.

Texas reopened its beaches on May 1 after they closed operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A video posted on social media platforms showed most of the attendees violating the social distancing protocols.

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