Miami Dade police are investigating a deadly mass shooting that left more than 20 people injured in what detectives described as a “targeted act of violence.”

Authorities said two people have died as a result of their injuries.

“This is a despicable act of gun violence,” said Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez. “A cowardly act.”

Victims were rushed to several hospitals in Miami Dade and Broward counties, some in their personal vehicles, according to police.

Ramirez said the El Mula Banquet Hall, located at 7630 Northwest 186th Street, was rented out for a concert Saturday May 29th into Sunday morning.

According to police, the music stopped just after midnight and patrons were standing outside when a white Nissan Pathfinder SUV pulled up, three subjects stepped out with assault rifles and handguns and began shooting indiscriminately into the crowd.

“Typically the crowd is usually rowdy, a fight every other weekend,” said Alex Lanires, who works nearby. “It was a matter of time before something really bad happened and I guess today was that time.”

Police said paramedics took eight people from the scene while at least 12 others were driven or drove themselves to various hospitals.

Seven victims were rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital after initially arriving at Palmetto General Hospital, police said.

“You never know what its like until you have something jerked away from you,” said a man named Chad, who is the father of one of the shooting victims, a 19-year-old girl. “She’s in surgery now. We’re just praying. Praying for all the victims, praying for all the families.”

Outside of the emergency room at Jackson Memorial, as many as 50 family members and friends gathered to wait for information on their loved ones.

Angelica Green was one of those people. She told Local 10 News that her son was one of the shooting victims and that he was shot in the stomach.

“He called us frantic, saying he had been shot, that it hurts and that he loves us,” Green said. “My husband was like, ‘No, stay with us.’