1 dead, 2 injured after shooting at Vancouver Mall
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — One person is dead and two people are injured after a shooting at Vancouver Mall, according to the Vancouver Fire Department.
The two people with injuries are being taken to a local hospital.
Vancouver police said that anyone sheltering in place inside the mall can exit the building and that there is no active threat inside the mall.
Authorities said the suspect is still outstanding and possibly armed. However, Kim Kapp, a Vancouver police spokesperson, told KOIN 6 News that there is no longer an ongoing danger to the people at the mall.
The Vancouver Police Department said they initially responded to reports of a shooting at the mall at 8700 NE Vancouver Mall Driver around 7:30 p.m.
"Witnesses reported that a person in the food court area shot another individual and fired other rounds that struck two other individuals," Vancouver police said in a release. "When police arrived, they located one person deceased and two other people who were injured who were transferred to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment of their injuries."
At first, employees and people shopping in the mall were ordered to shelter in place, officials said.
As of 10 p.m. Thursday night, there is still a heavy law enforcement presence at the mall.
Members of the Lower Columbia SWAT Team and other law enforcement agencies are currently going through the mall, systemically clearing it out of all its occupants. On the outside of the building, people who were previously shopping inside are being reunited with loved ones.
The reunification area for anyone who was separated during the incident is outside the Hobby Lobby at the Vancouver Mall.
KOIN 6 News spoke to a witness who was in the mall when the shooting happened. She wished to remain anonymous but said it was a harrowing scene as the shopping center was full of kids trick-or-treating, she said.
"Terrifying. The most terrifying thing that I've ever seen .. very scary," the woman said. "It happened so fast. There's a lot of kids here tonight. That was my first thought. I saw dozens and dozens of kids trick or treating in the mall. I was sacred for the. I could hear kids crying everywhere, kids screaming. One girl saying, 'I dont want to die, I dont want to die.' She was probably eight years old."
Law enforcement authorities said they are looking over surveillance video as part of the investigation, trying to identify the suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to call Vancouver Police.
This is a developing story. KOIN 6 News will update this story when more information becomes available.