BLOOMINGTON (AP) – Someone fired shots on Thursday at the Mall of America in suburban Minneapolis, sending shoppers running for cover, but police said it did not appear anyone was injured.
Bloomington police also said they were still searching for a suspect after securing the scene shortly before 6pm.
They said a lockdown that had forced some shoppers to shelter in place, while others fled, was in the process of being lifted.
Video posted to social media showed what appeared to be a man shouting as he walked near the complex’s Nike store, with at least three apparent gunshots.
Bloomington Police Chief Booker T Hodges during a news conference on Thursday night at the mall said two groups got into an altercation at a store, one group left, but someone in that group decided to fire three rounds into a store with people around.
“Fortunately, at this time it doesn’t appear that anyone was injured,” Hodges said.
Police are looking for two people but only one had a weapon, Hodges said. He said a Bloomington police officer was on the scene within 30 seconds. Hodges said if someone decides they have no regard for human life, “I don’t know what we can do about that.”
Mall spokesman Dan Jasper said the mall will reopen with more mall security and police on site.
“Guns are not allowed on the Mall of America property,” Jasper said.
Governor Tim Walz tweeted: “Tonight’s violence at the Mall of America is unacceptable. These brazen incidents will not be tolerated.”
Video posted online showed shoppers fleeing from the amusement park at the interior on the giant mall’s ground level, holding their children’s hands and clutching their bags.
Still other video showed a pair of police officers, including one with a rifle, moving through the mall, and people walking quickly away from the mall’s large interior atrium area.