ROCKFORD — A 23-year-old man was killed and five others injured in an early-morning shooting today at a private birthday party at the Clock Tower Resort and Conference Center.

Rockford police were called at 12:50 a.m. to the resort, 7801 E. State St., after shots were fired. They found the 23-year-old on the hallway floor suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His name is being withheld pending family notification.

Officers also found a second man, 20, who had been shot. He was taken to the hospital for treatment and was in critical condition, according to Rockford police.

Four others — an 18-year-old woman, and three men ages 18, 19 and 21 — were shot and taken to the hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening.

All of those shot live in Rockford, Sgt. Rich Gambini said.

Police said a dispute involving several people occurred before shots were fired.

"It was a large birthday party," Gambini said. "It was chaotic, and people were running from the scene."

Gambini did not have information this morning about who is responsible for the shooting. No one has been arrested.

Chavez Dyse of Rockford attended the party but was at a nearby Wal-Mart store buying snacks when the shooting occurred. She said the birthday party was for her cousin and took place in two linked hotel rooms.

Her female cousin was one of the five people shot and taken to the hospital. She was responsive and recovering this morning, Dyse said.

She said the party was exclusive and the location not widely shared. "Well under 50" people were there, she said.

Someone let people in through a side door, which may be how the shooter slipped in, Dyse said.

"I'm shocked and disappointed," Dyse said. "Rockford is not getting any better. This is just sad. You can't even chill at a hotel with people you know and have a good time without something bad happening."

Calls seeking comment from the hotel manager were not immediately returned.

This is the 22nd homicide in Rockford so far this year; there were 19 homicides in 2015.

A concerned Denise Cardona, 27, of Monroe, Wisconsin, arrived at the Clock Tower at 9:35 a.m. today to help her mother catch a bus for a trip out of town. Cardona said she'd heard about the shooting.

"I did not want to drop her off," she said. "So we stayed with her until she got on the bus."

Bessie Young was at the resort this afternoon on a visit from outside Fort Hood, Texas. She moved from Rockford in the 1970s but returns to visit family.

"There's a lot of violence here," she said, "as there is all over the world."

Adrian Vasquez, owner of Totally You Hair Salon inside the Clock Tower Resort, said the shooting hasn't affected the salon.

"It's business as usual," he said at about 11 a.m. "We have not had one call canceling. We have children in here right now."

Industrialist Seth Atwood opened the landmark Clock Tower in 1968 to lure visitors to his multimillion-dollar Time Museum collection of exotic timepieces. The museum closed and the timepieces were sold.

In 1999, the Atwoods sold the 250-room resort to Regency Hotel Management. Regency sold it in 2005 to WPH Rockford LLC and Sage Hospitality, which built the CoCo Key Water Park. The hotel was sold at auction in 2011 to Allied Hospitality of Houston, the current owner. CoCo Key has been shuttered since summer 2015 and maintenance problems have sparked concern among city officials.

Anyone with information about the shooting should contact the Rockford Police Department at 779-500-6555 or Rockford Area Crime Stoppers at 815-963-7867.

Check back for more information as this story develops.

Adam Poulisse: 815-987-1344; apoulisse@rrstar.com; @adampoulisse

Georgette Braun: 815-987-1331; gbraun@rrstar.com; @GeorgetteBraun

Kevin Haas: 815-987-1410; khaas@rrstar.com; @kevinmhaas