Tacoma Mall shooting - 'Active shooter' in Washington shopping center as SWAT team arrives and frant
POLICE are investigating a shooting in the food court of a Washington mall on Friday night that left at least one person critically injured in hospital, reports say.
Droves of SWAT teams, local police units, and ambulances flocked to the Tacoma Mall at around 7pm local time after several people called 911 to report an "active shooter" incident.
Sgt. Darren Moss of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department confirmed at least one person was shot and injured at the scene.
Speaking to the media, Tacoma Police said "there were thousands of people at the mall" during the post-Thanksgiving sales when one person was shot just after 7pm local time during a food court brawl.
They were hospitalized in a serious condition, he said – but the shooter is still at large.
The shooting chaos in the Tacoma Mall comes as:
More than 60 law enforcement officers from Tacoma, Pierce County, Lakewood, Puyallup and the Washington State Patrol are currently on scene, sweeping the mall store by store, reports say.
In a statement, the sheriff's department stressed this is not an active shooter situation.
Currently, there are no suspects in custody. A description of the suspect or suspects has not been issued by police.
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The mall remains in lockdown while an investigation continues.
Hundreds of shoppers were seen running for their lives or ducking behind tables and seeking shelter in nearby stores as up to 15 shots reportedly rang out in the food court at 7.08pm local time.
Read our Black Friday live blog for the very latest news and updates...
One witness exclusively spoke to The Sun about the harrowing experience when shots rang out as they waited for a food order, noting that "it was chaos" and "all happened so fast."
Meanwhile, frantic reports of the chaos surfaced on social media.
"Reports of a shooting at @TacomaMall; stores currently on lockdown. Stay away from the area," warned one person.
A concerned father wrote: "My daughter is in Nordstrom. Swat team just entered. Employees hiding."
"We got an active shooter at the mall. Do not come to the Tacoma Mall," wrote one user, who described that he was taking cover at the Gucci store inside.
'GET OUT IF YOU CAN'
"I’m in lockdown in the store so I’m Gucci," he went on.
"Bro get out if you can," one person told him. Meanwhile, noticed the hive of activity over the area as ambulances arrived.
"What is going on at the Tacoma Mall?!!!! So many police and ambulances!!!" noted one witness, who shared a photo of flashing lights."
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The Tacoma Mall was the site of a 2005 mass shooting that saw gunman Dominick Maldonado use a semi-automatic rifle and pistol to hurt six people and instigate four armed kidnappings.
News of a reported active shooter there today comes after a Black Friday shooting left shoppers reeling in Durham, North Carolina, while shots were also fired at a Walmart in Washington state.
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