Police say man shot 8 after being denied entry into San Antonio bar

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Police were searching for a shooter who opened fire after he was denied entry into a bar in San Antonio, wounding eight people, authorities said Saturday.

The five women and three men injured are ages 23 to 41, and are in stable condition, said San Antonio Police Chief William McManus. There were no fatalities.

The late Friday night incident started when a group that included the shooter was denied entry into a bar because they were intoxicated, the police chief said.

The shooter said, "'don't you know who I am? I'm a UFC fighter from California,'" according to McManus. He said the suspect went back to his car, grabbed "a long rifle" then walked back across the street and opened fire outside the bar in the parking lot.

"He hit eight individuals," the police chief said. "All transported themselves to local hospitals," where he characterized them as stable.

The most serious injury was suffered by someone who was shot in the back, McManus said. Two others were grazed but didn’t accept treatment.

Investigators were reviewing surveillance footage to identify the suspect and get more details on what happened.

Although the shooter remained at large, McManus said he didn’t believe there was any risk to the area.

The shooting scene at Rebar, a large nightspot that often has live music and DJ performances, is about 2 miles southeast of San Antonio International Airport.