SAN FRANCISCO - At least seven people were shot as a massive Halloween street party in the city's Castro district wound down, police said.

San Francisco Police officers check for evidence on Market Street at the scene of a multiple shooting near the Halloween celebration in the Castro district of San Francisco Tuesday Oct. 31, 2006. [AP]

The shootings occurred around 10:40 p.m. Tuesday, as authorities began dispersing thousands of revelers under a new curfew that was aimed at controlling the traditionally raucous event.

Two people were being questioned early Wednesday in the shooting, though it was not immediately clear if they were suspects or witnesses, said police spokesman Sgt. Neville Gittens. No arrests had been made, and the motive was unknown, he said.

Two people were taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, including one with a gunshot wound to the head, Gittens said.

Five others were found at the scene with non-life-threatening injuries, and two more possible victims were identified later, Gittens said.

"We've had a couple of people going into hospitals on their own, and we need to verify whether they were victims of that shooting," he said early Wednesday.

At least some of the victims were innocent bystanders, according to witnesses.

The once-spontaneous and unsanctioned party was taken over by the city four years ago after police recorded five stabbings and a number of assaults in a crowd of 500,000.

Officials and members of the district's gay community said the party began attracting gay bashers along with colorful costumed characters, and many gays and lesbians stopped coming.

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