Washington: At least three people have been killed and two others were injured in an apparent mass shooting at a shopping mall about 65 miles north of Seattle, Washington State on Friday.
Police surrounded the area near Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, after receiving reports of shots fired at a Macy’s store around 7:00 p.m.
Some people who were evacuated from the mall were taken to a local church.
Sgt. Mark Francis, a spokesman for the state patrol said.Police are sweeping stores in Cascade Mall, searching for at least one shooter.
Authorities released a photo of a man believed to be the gunman in a black shirt holding what appears to be a gun inside the mall surfaced on social media late Friday night.
“Here is the shooter. We believe just one shooter. … Armed with rifle,” Francis tweeted.
Francis said police are “actively searching for suspect, tracking leads.”
Governor Jay Inslee said in a statement. “We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect’s capture.”
The shooting follows an incident which took place on Saturday at St. Cloud, Minnesota, in which eight people were injured in a mass stabbing.