At least two people are dead and four others are injured, including a police officer, after a shooting at a shopping mall Monday in Boise, Idaho, authorities said.
At a news conference, Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee said officers responded to a report of shots fired at Boise Towne Square shopping mall at about 1:15 p.m. The mall is located in Idaho’s largest city and is the city’s largest mall.
When police arrived, authorities say they saw someone who matched the description of a suspect. An exchange of gunfire followed, which led to one police officer being injured, according to Lee.
Lee said a suspect is in custody and believes there was only one shooter. Authorities haven’t identified a motive for the shooting.
Idaho Governor Brad Little called the shooting “unthinkable” in a tweet Monday afternoon.
Police were interviewing dozens of people outside the entrance to Macy’s, one of five large department stores at the mall that has 153 stores in all. Authorities are also investigating what appears to be another crime scene at a restaurant near the mall.
Cheri Gypin, of Boise, was in the mall with a friend where they walk for an hour three or four times a week. She said she heard several large bangs, but thought something had fallen from the ceiling.
Then about 60 people, including families pushing strollers, came running at them, some of them shouting that there was an active shooter.
“My friend was trying to process it,” said Gypin, 60. “I just looked at her and said, ‘We’ve got to run.’ So we just ran and kept running until we got to the outer perimeter of the parking lot.”
They made their way back to their car, where police told the crowd of people who had fled the mall to leave the parking area.
One person at the mall posted a video on Rumble, an online video platform, where several shots can be heard ringing throughout the mall.
Boise Mayor Lauren McLean spoke at a news conference after the shooting.
“As we think about those that were hurt today, my heart goes out to those who sheltered in place, those who saw this crime, those who weren’t sure if they’d see a loved one again,” she said.
McLean added: “I am deeply, deeply sorry for the pain and trauma you experienced.”
Contributing: The Associated Press.