Gunfire in East Lawrence Thursday night had police searching the 1500 and 1600 blocks of Powers Street for a shooter, as neighbors were frightened and baffled.

Lawrence Police Capt. Steve Zarnowiec said police had been called to a fight about 8:45 p.m. Thursday, and while officers were en route the call was upgraded to a shooting.

Two hours after the initial call, police had not taken anyone into custody, but they had talked to a person who had “direct knowledge” of the shooting, Zarnowiec said.

Zarnowiec could not confirm that the incident was victimless, though no medical vehicles responded to the scene.

Shortly after the call, six police cars with sirens blaring surrounded the area and blocked off Powers Street for more than half an hour as officers tried to sort the incident out.

More than a dozen neighbors gathered near the intersections of 17th and Powers streets shortly after the incident as police questioned several people about the shooting and canvassed the area.

Details were unclear, but one neighbor who lived on 17th Street said he had heard fighting from down the street followed by gunshots. Several neighbors who were gathered at the scene estimated that between five and seven shots had been fired.

By 11 p.m., police had blocked off 1532 Powers St. with crime scene tape, and officers were searching the inside of the house and using metal detectors in the front yard.