"Based on our preliminary investigation, we learned that an altercation took place at a party that was nearby," Columbus Police Chief Freddie Blackmon said, adding that all the victims were under the age of 18.
The nine victims include a preteen and a 5-year-old boy who is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Seven of the victims are male and two are female, Blackmon said.
Police say the ages of the children injured were 5, 12, three 13-year-olds, 14, two 15-year-olds, and 17.
None of the children are believed to have suffered a life-threatening injury.
Blackmon said an altercation may have taken place at the party, hosted at a nearby "warehouse location," and that the argument spilled over into the gas station.
"We’re still working to develop the information to find out exactly what occurred, and how many individuals are involved," he said.
"While Columbus is not immune to these incidents, I want to assure citizens that the men and women of CPD are tirelessly working to get violent offenders off our streets," Blackmon said in a statement before the press conference.
"It is going to take a community effort to combat gun violence in our city. The entire village has a responsibility because incidents like this impact all of us."