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Fatal Shooting At American Mall Sends Christmas Shoppers Into Lockdown

shooting
December 24, 2022

It was learnt that the shooting prompted the Mall to go on lockdown.

A 19-year-old man has reportedly died in a mall of America shooting on Friday night less than two days before Christmas.

It was learnt that the shooting prompted the Mall to go on lockdown.

ABC news report that Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges says around 7:50 p.m., officers heard gunshots on the first floor of Nordstrom. There were 16 officers working in the mall at the time of the shooting.

Hodges says it appears there was a physical altercation prior to the shooting involving anywhere between 5-9 individuals.

Police have not arrested anyone in connection to the shooting.

"This is just flat-out stupid," Hodges said. "We are going to catch you [the suspects], we're going to lock you up."

Videos posted on social media show shoppers hiding in stores. Some videos show shoppers running for cover after a loud bang is heard. One bystander's coat was grazed by a bullet.

This is the second lockdown Mall of America has gone on this year--shots fired outside the Nike store prompted a lockdown in August.

The mall bans guns on the premises but does not have metal detectors at its entrances. It began month-long testing of the use of a "weapons detection system" at its north entrance in October.

The mall says it will reopen Saturday at 10 a.m. The Nordstrom store will remain closed.

"I really feel the family, the mom, the dad, the other relatives the mayor and I spoke to before coming out here--they're in pain, and rightfully so, for something that should not have happened," said Hodges.

However, the Mall of America confirmed the incident in a statement noting that the lockdown has since been lifted.

"Just before 8 p.m. this evening, Bloomington Police Department responded to a shooting contained in a tenant space. As a result, Mall of America was put into lockdown. The lockdown has since been lifted. The Mall is now closed for the evening."

The Bloomington Police Department plans to give another update on Saturday.