A fatal shooting occurred at the General Growth Properties owned Mall in Columbia, Maryland today at approximately 11:15pm ET which resulted in 3 fatalities and at least 4 others injured. Employees and patrons ran in horror as shots rang out in the second floor of the popular shopping Mall which opened in 1971.
The Howard County police are confident there was a single male shooter but have declined to specify the age or race of the shooter. The gunman is believed to be among the dead and was found near a shotgun and ammunition. The police are concerned about possible explosives or other ammunition and are waiting for Federal assistance to start the moving of his body.
The shots came from the Zumiez store which is located on the upper level of the mall, near Sears and above the food court. Two employees, Brianna Benlolo, 21 of College Park MD & Tyler Johnson, 25, of Ellicott City MD were killed in and around the popular skate shop.
Brianna Benlolo ( assistant Manager of Zumiez)
Police responded to 911 calls and confirm that none of their officers discharged any weapons. The first responders arrived at the scene within 2 minutes. No motive has been confirmed by the police at this time but the question remains "Did the shooter know the victims"?
Howard County General has confirmed that they are treating a victim from the mall who suffered a gunshot wound to the foot.
Customers were unable to leave the Mall for almost 2 hours as the police and swat teams locked down the building. Columbia Mall and the movie theater will be closed at least through tonight. Details will be released soon as plans are confirmed for the reopening of the 200 store shopping mall.
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