A tragic incident unfolded at a mall in Washington State during a Halloween event on Thursday evening, leaving one person dead and two others injured. The shooting took place around 7:30 p.m. PST on the second floor of the food court at Vancouver Mall, sparking fear and chaos among the shoppers who hastily evacuated the area.
The Vancouver Police Department confirmed the injuries and subsequent hospitalization of two individuals, though their current conditions have not been disclosed. The department also sought to reassure the public that there was no ongoing threat within the mall. Officers were in the process of contacting those who had sought refuge within the mall during the incident. The department pledged to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
The shooting transpired during the mall’s annual Halloween event, known as “Boo-tacular Trick-or-Treating.” This community event encourages people of all ages to don costumes and visit participating stores for treats. The event was slated to end at 8 p.m.
One eyewitness, a father who had just completed trick-or-treating with his family, was at the mall’s Round1 bowling alley when the panic ensued. He swiftly gathered his children and ushered them to safety. “I grabbed my two kids and put them behind me,” Gregory Iiams shared with local media outlets.
Authorities have yet to release details about the shooter or the victims. The Vancouver Mall, a sprawling shopping complex covering 880,000 square feet and housing over 140 stores, is located 7 miles north of the Columbia River, which serves as the border between Washington State and Portland, Oregon.