Ten people were shot dead and two others were injured in a shooting at a shopping center in the South Carolina capital that authorities do not believe was an accidental attack.
Three people who had firearms have been detained in connection with Saturday afternoon’s shooting at the Columbiana Center, Colombian Police Chief W. H. (Skip) Holbrooke said. At least one of the three people fired, he said.
“We don’t believe it was an accident,” Holbrooke said. “We believe they knew each other and something led to the shooting.
Authorities said there were no reports of deaths, but eight of the victims were taken to hospital. Of those eight, two are in critical condition and six are in stable condition, Holbrooke said. The victims ranged in age from 15 to 73, he said.
Daniel Johnson said he and his family were visiting Alabama and eating at restaurants when they first heard gunshots and began to see people running.
Police cars are on display in the mall’s parking lot on Saturday. (Sean Rayford / Associated Press)
Johnson said people were shouting about their children and husbands, knocking down tables in restaurants as they fled.
“Everyone was trying to get out,” Johnson said. “When I went out, you could see inverted prams, people’s phones and keys left. It was kind of a hurry.”
Johnson said he gathered his wife, daughter and son and headed for the exit after letting the crowd dissipate for a while.
“My biggest thing was – and not to sound selfish – to make sure that our family is well and to take them out safely, because this is not something we like to do for Easter weekend.
The increased police presence continued in the area hours after the shooting, although officers began to miss more traffic on the streets around shopping malls and shopping malls, which are usually full on weekends. Officers were also stationed in front of a nearby hotel designated as a gathering place for people at the scene of the shooting and their families.
Workers from several stores remained huddled in the nearly empty parking lot, waiting for police to let them in to retrieve their car keys and personal belongings so they could leave. They said they did not hear or see anything during the shooting, but followed the mall’s warning system and were escorted by police shortly afterwards. They declined to give names, citing company policy.
“Today’s isolated, senseless act of violence is extremely upsetting and everyone’s thoughts are affected,” the Columbiana Center said in a statement. “We are grateful for the prompt response and continued support of our security team and our law enforcement partners.”
Last shot at a mall in the United States
The shooting is the latest in a series of shootings in or near malls across the country.
A 15-year-old boy was shot in the head on Wednesday in front of the Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn. His injuries are not considered life-threatening. New York police say he was with a group of boys outside the mall when they got into an argument with a second group of boys.
On Tuesday, a shoe store owner in Southern California accidentally shot a nine-year-old girl while shooting two thieves at the Mall of Victor Valley, police said.
Earlier this month, police said six people were killed and 12 others injured in Sacramento, California, during a shootout between rival gangs as bars closed in a busy area near Downtown Commons Mall and the capital. the state.
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