A street fight involving several people in northern New Jersey ended when a man was shot in the back.

Paterson police say the shooting occurred around 3:30 a.m. Sunday on East 23rd Street, between 11th and 12th avenues. But it's not clear if the wounded man, a 45-year-old city resident, was involved in the fight or if he was the shooter's intended target.

Authorities say the man was trying to flee the scene on foot when he was shot. He initially sought help from residents at a nearby home and was later taken to a hospital, but further details on his injuries were not disclosed.

It's not clear what sparked the street fight or how many combatants were involved. The incident remains under investigation, and no arrests have been made.