Selma mayoral candidate and Alabama State Rep. Darrio Melton was not injured but was shot at during an attempted robbery Thursday night while leaving the Barbecue on the Green event at Sturdivant Hall, according to District Attorney Michael Jackson.

District Attorney Michael Jackson, who attended the event and was there when the alleged shots rang out, identified Melton as one of the attempted robbery victims.

Melton could not be reached for comment late Thursday night.

The two victims were talking behind Sturdivant Hall about 9 p.m. when two suspects jumped out of the bushes, according to Selma Police Department Chief John Brock. Brock said the victims were talking in a grassy area that had been used for parking behind Sturdivant Hall when they heard something in the bushes. They saw two men moving toward them and one of them had a gun, Brock said.

“One of the men yelled, ‘Don’t run, don’t run’ and the victims ran,” Brock said. “After they started running, they ran back to Sturdivant Hall and when they looked back the two guys were gone.”

When they took off running, the victims heard two or three gunshots fire out, Brock said. Jackson said he heard two gunshots.

“You could hear the shots. They were very clear, clear shots in the night,” Jackson said. “The sheriff’s deputies, they rushed out of the event to head over to it and then Selma police cars were coming.”

Jackson said he had communicated with Melton, who said he and the other man were OK. Brock said there were no injuries. Jackson said this type of crime is a “black eye” on the community.

“There were a lot of people at that event, including myself, in a well-lit area with sheriff’s deputies there and for these guys to try to rob somebody but to rob a mayoral candidate, things are getting out of hand,” Jackson said. “We are going to have to put these gunslingers away.”

Brock said the victims were still being interviewed on Thursday night, so he didn’t have a description of the suspect.

“It’s frustrating people trying to go out and have a good time and people take advantage of it,” Brock said.

The Selma Police Department is investigating the incident.

Melton received the most votes in a five-person field of mayoral candidates and will be in a run-off in a Oct. 4 with former Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr.