Gunshots reported Monday night

COLUMBIA — Between five and six gunshots were fired near the intersection of Rice and Carol Roads around 9 p.m. Monday.

There were no injuries reported, and no call was received from the hospital regarding any gunshot victims, Columbia Police Sgt. Ken Gregory said.

Police received several phone calls from people in the area after the gunshots were heard, he said, but when police arrived, they found only shell casings.

“Investigators have a witness that they spoke with this morning, and he has since been released,” Gregory said. He said the person is not a suspect and that no arrests have been made.

Gregory said crime has increased in the neighborhood where the shots were heard — north of Interstate 70 and west of Ballenger Lane.

“Crime in this area has been on the rise for a little while now,” he said.