Photo: The Canadian Press
Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrooke spoke to the media near the Columbiana Center Mall in Columbia, South Carolina, after the shooting, Saturday, April 16, 2022 (AP Photo / Sean Rayford)
Ten people were shot dead and two others were injured in a shooting at a busy shopping center in the South Carolina capital that authorities do not believe was an accidental attack.
Three people who had firearms were detained in connection with Saturday’s shooting at the Columbiana Center, Colombian Police Chief W. H. Skip Holbrooke said. He said at least one of the three people had fired.
“We don’t believe it’s a coincidence,” Holbrooke said. “We believe they know 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.
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 left keys. It was kind of a hasty situation. “
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 an almost empty parking lot on Saturday night, waiting for police to let them in to pick up 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 evacuated by police shortly afterwards. They declined to give names, citing company policy.
“Today’s isolated, senseless act of violence is extremely embarrassing and our thoughts are affected by everyone,” 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.”
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. Officials said he was with a group of boys when they got into an argument with a second group.
On Tuesday, the owner of a shoe store in Southern California accidentally shot a 9-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 and the Capitol. the state.
Add Comment