The gunfire broke out in a neighborhood southwest of the university, police said.
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No arrests were announced as investigators were working to identify a suspect or suspects in the shooting, according to the Harrisonburg Police Department.
All of the victims suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, according to police. Five of the victims were taken to nearby Sentara RMH Medical Center and three others were treated at the University of Virginia Medical Center, authorities said.
The victims ranged in age from 18 to 27. It was not immediately clear if any students from James Madison University were among those injured.
"The incident occurred at 2:20 a.m., when an unknown individual or individuals fired multiple times into a crowd at an outdoor gathering," Harrisonburg police said in a statement.
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No suspects were at the scene when officers arrived and began administering aid to those injured, police said.
While the circumstances of the shooting remain under investigation, police officials said it appeared to be an isolated incident and said, "there is not believed to be any threat to the greater community at this time."
Police said anyone with information about the shooting can call the agency's tip line at (540) 574-5050.