Pregnant woman struck by gunfire on bus loses baby delivered after shooting in western Massachusetts city

A pregnant mother lost her baby amid a shooting in the downtown area of a western Massachusetts city, police said.

In a press release, the Hampden County District Attorney's Office said that an "uninvolved female occupant" seated on a public transportation bus was struck by gunfire near an intersection in Holyoke before 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

The unidentified woman and her unborn baby were immediately transported to a local hospital "in critical condition," authorities said. 

Authorities said the baby was delivered and needed life-saving medical services after the incident.

The baby "tragically passed away," the DA's office said. Authorities have not released any details about the mother's health following the shooting.

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Massachusetts State Police (MSP) said that a preliminary investigation revealed that the shooting stemmed from an "altercation among a group of people." Authorities later said that three men were involved in the altercation. 

Police said that all three suspects are in police custody and that all involved suspects have been identified. Authorities have not released the names of the three suspects.

The office of Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia said the mayor was aware of the shooting.

"Shortly before 1 p.m. today there was a shooting at the intersection of Maple and Sargeant Streets in Holyoke. There were multiple gunshot victims. The police investigation is active and ongoing," the office said.

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Holyoke police have asked residents to avoid the area while officers investigate the scene. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.