Police: No victim found in shooting at Mall of America, suspect fled the mall

2022-08-08 07:54:02 By : Mr. Cheng Lan

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Someone fired shots Thursday at the Mall of America in suburban Minneapolis, sending shoppers running for cover, but police said they did not immediately find a victim.

Bloomington police also said they were still searching for a suspect after securing the scene shortly before 6 p.m. They said a lockdown that had forced some shoppers to shelter in place, while others fled, was in the process of being lifted, but that the mall would not reopen Thursday.

Video posted to social media showed what appeared to be a man shouting as he walked near the complex’s Nike store, with at least three apparent gunshots.

Bloomington Police Chief Booker T. Hodges during a news conference Thursday night at the mall said two groups got into an altercation at a store, one group left, but someone in that group decided to fire three rounds into a store with people around.

“Fortunately, at this time it doesn’t appear that anyone was injured," Hodges said.

Police are looking for two people but only one had a weapon, Hodges said. He said a Bloomington police officer was on the scene within 30 seconds.

Hodges said if someone decides they have no regard for human life, “I don’t know what we can do about that.”

Mall spokesman Dan Jasper said the mall will reopen Friday with more mall security and police on site.

“Guns are not allowed on Mall of America property,” Jasper said.

Gov. Tim Walz tweeted: “Tonight’s violence at the Mall of America is unacceptable. These brazen incidents will not be tolerated.”

The mall, which opened in 1992, is the largest in the U.S. and is a tourist destination and community gathering spot.

Video posted online showed shoppers fleeing from the amusement park at the interior on the giant mall’s ground level, holding their children’s hands and clutching their bags. Still, other video showed a pair of police officers, including one with a rifle, moving through the mall, and people walking quickly away from the mall's large interior atrium area.

Video below: Witnesses describe what happened at the Mall of America

We have secured the scene at the Mall of America and can confirm that shots were fired. This is an isolated incident. The suspect fled the MOA on foot and officers are in the process of interviewing witnesses. At this time we have not located a victim.

Two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Busch and his family were also seen on video rushing out of the mall with other people.

Busch's wife, Samantha, posted videos on her Instagram story, showing their son, Brexton, winning a youth racing event on Wednesday and riding roller coasters with her husband on Thursday before providing a sobering update after the shooting.

“If you are seeing the news about the @mallofamerica we got out and are safe,” she posted. “Praying others inside are too.”

Trent Turner, a salesman at a DSW shoe store one level below the Nike store, said he was near the back when he heard gunshots. “Then I saw everyone stampeding toward the back,” he said.

One woman tweeted that she was shopping for clothes for high school senior pictures with her 17-year-old daughter when the store manager told them to “move as far back as possible.” The woman said she was in a fitting room with her daughter. Another person posted a video of dozens of people said to be gathered in the basement as warnings to “please shelter immediately” repeated over mall speakers.

A woman who gave her name only as Tara told The Associated Press that she and a friend were among dozens of people who ran down a hallway to get out of the mall.

“We were in the Lululemon store and I just saw people running and he was in the dressing room and I started banging on the door to get him to come out and he didn’t have a shirt on so we just ran out of there," she said.

The Mall of America bans guns on its premises, according to its website. The mall does not have metal detectors and shoppers are not searched upon entry. It was the scene of a shooting on New Year’s Eve, when two people were wounded during an apparent altercation.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Mall of America is currently under lockdown. Please stay where you are until the lockdown is lifted.— Mall of America (@mallofamerica) August 4, 2022 This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. We are currently working an active incident inside Mall of America on the northwest side. Numerous officers are on scene. We will update when we have more information.— Bloomington Police (@BPD_MN) August 4, 2022

Mall of America is currently under lockdown. Please stay where you are until the lockdown is lifted.

We are currently working an active incident inside Mall of America on the northwest side. Numerous officers are on scene. We will update when we have more information.

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