Seven people were wounded early Saturday morning in a shooting in central California, authorities said.

The California Highway Patrol reported first that its units were on a traffic stop near the area of 4400 Woodward Avenue in the city of Manteca when they heard several gunshots and then saw several people running.

San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies responded to the shooting soon afterwards.

"There had apparently been a large party and someone had showed up and started shooting into the crowd," the office said in a statement.

"The suspect is described as a black male, thin, wearing a black hoodie and armed with a semi-auto weapon," it said, adding the motive for the attack is still unclear.

Two of the victims were in critical condition and five others treated and released after being taken to local hospitals, it said.

Two of the victims were minors and everyone else adults, the statement said, adding that the investigation of the incident is ongoing.