A man opened fire inside a crowded Alabama mall ahead of Black Friday after getting into a fight with another shopper, injuring two – including a 12-year-old girl – before he was killed by police.
The gunfire erupted just after 9:50 p.m. Thanksgiving Day at Riverchase Galleria in the town of Hoover, about 10 miles from Birmingham, local reports said.
“We received a call of shots fired outside of Foot Action,” said Hoover Police Capt. Gregg Rector, AL.com reported. “We already had multiple officers working at the mall for traffic control and police presence inside.”
https://twitter.com/CaitoPotato/status/1065842825881968640
The gunshots sent shoppers scurrying for cover and several police officers were seen with their guns drawn.
An 18-year-old male was also shot and rushed to a nearby hospital in serious condition, AL.com reported. The 12-year-old was rushed to the children’s hospital and is believed to be alert and conscious.
The gunman fled the area before he was confronted by Hoover police officers.
“One of our officers did engage that individual and shot him,’’ Rector said. “He was dead on the scene.”
He added: “We know the deceased was armed with a handgun and we know he shot the person who was transported (to the hospital).”
The gunman – believed to be a 21-year-old from Hueytown – was not been identified as of Friday morning.
Lexi Joiner said she was inside the mall when she heard 6 or 7 shots fired. Workers ordered them into supply closets for cover. “It was terrifying” pic.twitter.com/0pLwbKIWmw
— carol robinson (@RobinsonCarol) November 23, 2018
Lexi Joiner, who was at the mall at the time of the shooting, told the newspaper that she heard six gunshots and was ordered into a supply closet for cover with other shoppers.
“This was my first Black Friday, I knew it would be crazy, just not this crazy,” she said.
Someone posted this shooting in the mall at river riverchase Galleria in Hoover Alabama on Thanksgiving pic.twitter.com/3WczyXqu7A
— Nicole (@Nprezzed) November 23, 2018
The police officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation into the shooting.
