One person is dead and two people were injured in a shooting at Vancouver Mall on Halloween.
The mall was packed about 7:30 p.m. Thursday with people trick-or-treating at mall shops, many in costume, when shots were fired near the food court. Hundreds fled, ending up in the parking lot, while others sheltered in place.
One person was killed and two were taken to area hospitals. There is no word on their condition.
Natalya Brown was working in the mall about 20 minutes before closing.
“We were starting to wrap up,” she said. “We heard a loud sound. I knew it was gunfire — seven to eight rounds. People started running.”
Brown said she and her co-workers started pulling people in the store and then closed and barricaded the gates just after 7:30 p.m. They were locked in until about 9 p.m. when police made contact.
“There is currently no active threat inside the mall and police are making contact with people who were sheltering in place inside the mall,” the Vancouver Police Department said on Twitter. “Anyone that has been sheltering in place inside the mall can leave through any open exit. Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to call the VPD Tip Line at 360-487-7399.”
Vancouver police have asked that people avoid the area. The Clark and Cowlitz County sheriff’s offices, Longview and Kelso police and SWAT have also responded, filling the parking lot with dozens of vehicles and law enforcement personnel. Outside agencies were helping with traffic control.
Anyone who was separated from their party is being asked to congregate at Hobby Lobby.
Ryan Tomlin, 18, of Vancouver still had his bowling shoes on in the parking lot outside Macy’s a little after 8 p.m. He had been bowling with friends at Round1.
“I threw the first ball and we hear ‘Shooter, shooter! Active shooter!'” he said. The group of 18-and 19-year-olds wasn’t sure it was real until they headed outside near the west end of the mall and saw three police cars.
Vancouver police initially secured the food court on the second floor of the 880,000-square-foot shopping center, 8700 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive, and locked down the mall.
The shopping center was hosting trick-or-treating for all ages from 5 to 8 p.m.
Gregory Iiams of Vancouver was at Round1 with his wife and two kids after trick-or-treating with his 4-year-old daughter.
The family was playing when people started running out through Round1.
“I grabbed my two kids and put them behind me,” he said, at the time not knowing why the crowd was leaving in a panic. His family was following the crowd when he heard someone say active shooter.
Vancouver Mall security, when reached by phone, said they could not comment. The mall is owned by Centennial Real Estate.
This story will be updated.
