A night of celebration to honor the life of rapper DMX turned violent as two people were shot blocks apart, causing one of the victims to run into a News 12 vehicle at the scene for safety. 

Gunfire erupted about an hour after a candlelight vigil at the 4th Street playground Wednesday night.

News 12's Ty Milburn and his photographer Dan Foley were on the scene covering the vigil for News 12 when they say they heard what sounded like firecrackers, but turned out to be gunshots.  Milburn said he and Foley ran into the News 12 vehicle, and shortly after that, a bleeding victim got into the back of the car and asked to stay there for cover.

News 12 flagged down police, who were blocks away at the other shooting. Milburn says the police helped the victim out of the car and onto the sidewalk and began to administer first aid. He says the victim appeared to be losing consciousness. 

The victim was taken away in an ambulance. His condition and name is unknown at this point. 

The News 12 team was not allowed back in the vehicle because it became part of the crime scene.

No other information was provided on the second shooting.

Mount Vernon officials say the victims in both shootings are expected to survive.

There is no word yet on what caused the violence. Police are investigating both incidents, but Mount Vernon's mayor says the shootings were disrespectful to the community and to the memory of DMX. "We had a peaceful and unifying event. It is very unfortunate that an hour and a half to two hours after the event ended and not connected to the event that we had shootings," says Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard.

The night began with thousands gathering at the 4th Street park to honor the life of rapper DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons. The superstar artist was born in Mount Vernon and grew up in Yonkers.

He died last Friday at White Plains Hospital at the age of 50, after suffering a massive heart attack.

The event was a combination of a prayer vigil and block party where the music of DMX was played and dozens of  balloons were released into the sky. "It's a little overwhelming but I think it's deserving because he meant so much to do many, and I'm looking at so many pictures and memories that people are sharing and it's amazing he was able to put out albums and movies and still find the time to individually impact people's lives," says his cousin Katrina Simmons.