A gunman opened fire in downtown Seattle on Wednesday evening following an argument and wounded five people, two men critically, not far from protests against the surprise victory of Republican Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election.

The shooting did not appear to be connected to the anti-Trump demonstrations but instead stemmed from a personal argument, said Robert Merner, assistant chief of the Seattle Police Department.

“It appears that some type of argument took place. This individual began to walk away from the crowd, then turned and fired into the crowd,” Merner told reporters.

He said the suspect then fled from the area on foot and remained at large more than an hour later.

Suspect is male. Merner says officers were on scene as soon as shots were fired. pic.twitter.com/m8fFlDxt3W — Ana Sofia Knauf (@asknauf) November 10, 2016

Seattle Fire crews treating 5 patients with gunshot wounds. 2 of the 5 with life-threatening injuries. Medics transporting to HMC. pic.twitter.com/HTtHejkTpc — Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) November 10, 2016

The most seriously injured victim, a man, was rushed to nearby Harborview Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition on Wednesday night.

The other four victims, identified only as one woman and three men, all sustained non-life threatening wounds to their legs, police said.

Harborview update: Female patient from Seattle shooting is now in serious condition. 2 males critical, 2 males serious condition. — UW Medicine (@UWMedicine) November 10, 2016

Police and fire crews were on the scene in less than a minute because they had been in the area to monitor the demonstrations, he said, but did not arrive in time to engage the suspect.

3/Pine closed for shooting investigation pic.twitter.com/5ICsAr7yKM — Lynsi Burton (@LynsiBurton_PI) November 10, 2016

I just heard shots fired on 3rd and Pine. Massive scene- I can see one person on the ground #Q13FOX pic.twitter.com/4LC7lAtZue — Jamie Tompkins (@JamieQ13FOX) November 10, 2016

Ambulances crowded just off Pine and 3rd. Man on the ground. pic.twitter.com/crzNKJHfLn — Ana Sofia Knauf (@asknauf) November 10, 2016

5 people shot at this scene in downtown Seattle. Witness told me she heard the shots, "too many to count". pic.twitter.com/vz35Xx6dae — Heather Graf (@HeatherGrafK5) November 10, 2016

Thousands of people rallied in cities across the United States on Wednesday to protest against Trump’s win, blasting his controversial campaign rhetoric against immigrants, Muslims and other groups.

In Seattle, hundreds of protesters marched through the downtown streets.

Following the shooting, police closed down the intersection of Third Avenue and Pine streets, where the shooting took place in front of a convenience store and a bus stop.

The Seattle Times newspaper reported that witnesses heard several gunshots.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Paul Tait and Michael Perry)