At least eight people, including a 1-year-old boy, were shot Monday night during what police said was a videotaping of a rap music video.

The child was reported in critical condition after undergoing surgery at Children’s Hospital Oakland for a bullet wound to the head. An adult woman was also in critical condition with unspecified injuries, according to Oakland Police Department spokeswoman Johnna Watson. Police said the other victims were in stable condition.

Police said an Oakland rapper who goes by the name of Kafani was at the scene of the shooting, which happened at 6:08 p.m. in the 700 block of Willow Street, in the parking lot of a liquor store where dozens of people had gathered.

Watson said that at some point an argument erupted and bullets started flying. A van belonging to the rapper was riddled with gunshots, and at least 50 shell casings littered the parking lot. Watson said there was more than one shooter.

It was not clear late Monday whether the victims were in the van, or standing nearby. Several of the injured went to Highland Hospital, and all used their own transportation, Watson said. Kafani was not among the victims.

No one had been arrested and a motive was not immediately known.

“We have eight people who are victims of gunshot wounds and we are asking the community to get involved and report anything they might know,” Watson said. “There were a lot of eyes and ears out here tonight.”

In a biography posted on his personal website, Kafani.com, Kafani describes himself as a budding music mogul who goes by the handle “Da Ice King.” He has used social networking to build his following, claiming millions of downloads from his two MySpace pages and appearances on BET’s “106th & Park” and “The Deal” and MTV Jams, in addition to a three album record deal.

In the same bio, Kafani says, “I’m not trying to glorify shooting and killing. I’m rapping about the good life and letting my fans know there is a way out. I’m not trying to sound like anyone else. I’m just Kafani.”

Following the shooting Monday, the rapper posted on his Twitter account: “I cant take this (expletive) shootin (expletive) babies”. In a later posting, he denied that he was shooting a video.

Rumors quickly circulated on the Internet that the video was being filmed in connection with a single by rap artist Drake, but those rumors proved untrue. Drake and fellow rapper Lil Wayne were in the San Francisco area over Thanksgiving weekend for a video shoot to promote Drake’s song “The Motto,” according to a Nov. 23 tweet from the artist.

Drake’s tweet said that “YM” was going to be in the Bay Area. That is likely shorthand for Young Money Entertainment, which is Lil Wayne’s crew.

Lil Wayne is featured on “The Motto,” but in a Twitter post hours before the shooting, he said he was leaving for Fiji and Australia on tour.

At Highland Hospital late Monday the mood was tense around the emergency room lobby, where a handful of family and friends had gathered awaiting news on the condition of several victims. No one wanted to speak with a reporter.

Police were looking for an older, dark-colored Buick with three teens and a man in his 30s in it. The car reportedly fled west on Seventh Street to the freeway after the shooting.

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to contact the major crimes unit at 510-238-3821.

Staff writers Paul Burgarino and Jim Harrington contributed to this report.