At least one killed and two others injured after an unidentified man opened fire at an Alabama mall during Black Friday shopping on Thursday night.
Police reported that the shooting occurred Thursday night at the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover. Police also told an officer shot the suspect to death after he started shooting the people in the mall.
The incident started at the Galleria with a physical altercation between an 18-year-old man and the shooter. The confrontation occurred in the mall, near Footaction and JC Penny stores, police reported.
Hoover police Captain Gregg Recto said,
One of our Hoover officers did engage that individual, shot him and he is dead on the scene.
He further said,
We do not believe at this point the 18-year-old was armed.
The teen involving in the fight was injured and another 12-year-old girl was struck and injured with a single gunshot and she was hospitalized. The girl went through a surgery and she doesn't have any life-threatening injuries.
According to the witnesses, they heard the gunshots inside the mall, which was opened on late Thanksgiving. They further described the situation as chaotic with the customers screaming and staff trying to lock down the shopping center.
Brookfield Properties, the owner of the shopping center released a statement after the shooting saying it was devastated by the heinous act. Spokesman Lindsay Kahn said in the statement,
We are working closely with the Hoover Police Department and are grateful for their swift action to contain the situation. While there is no current danger to our community, the shopping center will remain closed for tonight.
At 10:44 p.m, the Hoover PD took to their Twitter announcing that the situation at the mall was under control.
