Breaking News: 8 People Shot in Tacoma Mall

Joe · 11-20-2005, 03:39 PM

BREAKING NEWS

Eight people are shot at a shopping mall in downtown Tacoma, Washington, a fire official says, adding shooter is still at large.

Joe · 11-20-2005, 03:41 PM

(CNN) -- At least five people have been wounded in a shooting at a shopping mall near downtown Tacoma, Washington, fire officials said.

"At this time, the situation is still evolving," said Jon Lendosky, deputy chief of the Tacoma Fire Department. "We're still right in the middle of it."

Lendosky said five people had been sent to hospitals. But another fire official, Lt. David Elmer, said earlier that eight people had been reported hurt.

Because the shooter remained at large, "There are still some we can't get to," Elmer said.

A woman who answered the phone at one store said her manager told her police had ordered a lockdown at the shopping center, and a police dispatcher said the situation was "still in progress."

albionmoonlight · 11-20-2005, 03:47 PM

Not to say that what just happened is any more or less tragic based on where it happened, but you may want to edit your title to lessen confusion; before I clicked on the thread, I thought that there had been a shooting at the National Mall in Washington D.C.

Yellow5 · 11-20-2005, 05:04 PM

I live a few miles from this mall, it's actually in the South end of Tacoma, not downtown.

My wife was entering the mall at the time. She said that people were running out, most of them on their phones, and people were yelling that someone was shooting everyone. She was entering the mall near the JC Penny which is the end that the shooting started. Just ahppy she made it home okay.

I've got my scanner on but all I've heard was the medic units as they were on their way to the mall. Most of the Tacoma fire department was called to the scene, and now I hear they also have found "suspicious package". Nice.

Sorry for the scattered post. Just freaks me out that my wife was right there when it happened and that we are so close.

Joe · 11-20-2005, 05:32 PM

glad she's okay

Glengoyne · 11-20-2005, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow5

I live a few miles from this mall, it's actually in the South end of Tacoma, not downtown.

My wife was entering the mall at the time. She said that people were running out, most of them on their phones, and people were yelling that someone was shooting everyone. She was entering the mall near the JC Penny which is the end that the shooting started. Just ahppy she made it home okay.

I've got my scanner on but all I've heard was the medic units as they were on their way to the mall. Most of the Tacoma fire department was called to the scene, and now I hear they also have found "suspicious package". Nice.

Sorry for the scattered post. Just freaks me out that my wife was right there when it happened and that we are so close.

Holy Crap! That is scary stuff.

I'm glad you have her safe at home, and am saddened that someone could inflict this kind of thing on other families.

sterlingice · 11-20-2005, 07:14 PM

Whoa, Yellow5, that's scary. Glad everything is ok.

SI

Yellow5 · 11-20-2005, 07:43 PM

Thank you.

The guy (kid) was caught. He opened fire near the Santa stand where children were getting pictures taken. He had a child as a hostage early on but let the kid go. I guess he was holding a couple of hostages in a Sam Goody store. He tied bells to them and then fell asleep...

No deaths, and only two people remain in the hospital right now. It is amazing that more people were not hurt.

vex · 11-20-2005, 08:09 PM

TACOMA, Wash. - A gunman opened fire inside a busy shopping mall Sunday, wounding at least six people and taking three others hostage in a music store before a SWAT team arrested him, authorities said.

Witnesses described seeing a man walking backward through the mall, firing a rifle. At least six people were injured, one critically, as shoppers and store clerks scrambled for cover.

Tacoma Police spokesman Mark Fulghum said the suspect was a young man, but he had no other details or possible motives.

Story continues below ↓

A SWAT team arrested him without firing a shot, and police were interviewing the victims and hostages to determine what happened during the nearly four hours he was inside, Fulghum said.

Record store employees taken hostage
While the suspect was still in the Sam Goody music store, employee Joe Hudson was able to pick up the phone call from The Associated Press and say he and others had been taken hostage. He said little more but could be heard telling others that he was talking to the AP.

Susan Serdeau said she also called her daughter, Kathy Riggans, 24, a manager at Sam Goody, as soon as she heard about the shooting.

“She was upset and scared. She was crying,” Serdeau said, standing in a parking lot near the mall. “All she would say was that she was OK.”

Authorities said they began getting calls about 12:15 p.m. that shots had been fired inside the Tacoma Mall. The first caller said there was a gunman, “He was in the mall, walking along, firing,” Fulghum said.

State Patrol and police units from nearby agencies clustered around an entrance at the south end.

Witnesses recount shooting
Inside, Stacy Wilson, 29, of Bonney Lake, heard a popping noise and turned around.

“I saw the gunman randomly shooting. I ran with a group of women to Victoria’s Secret,” Wilson said. She said they crouched behind a wall in the store, and when the shooting stopped, an employee ran out and closed a security gate at the front.

Wilson said she heard 15 to 20 shots.

“He was walking backward and shooting. I couldn’t see his face,” she said. “Everyone was running and screaming.”

Betz Dejarnatt, who works at the J.C. Penney store, said workers were herded into dressing rooms and offices, then police took them outside to a parking lot.

Six people were taken to hospitals, most with minor injuries, according to Tacoma Fire Department Deputy Chief Jon Lendosky. One person was in critical condition at Tacoma General Hospital, spokesman Todd Kelley said.

11-20-2005, 03:41 PM	#2
Joe Pro Starter Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Minneapolis	(CNN) -- At least five people have been wounded in a shooting at a shopping mall near downtown Tacoma, Washington, fire officials said. "At this time, the situation is still evolving," said Jon Lendosky, deputy chief of the Tacoma Fire Department. "We're still right in the middle of it." Lendosky said five people had been sent to hospitals. But another fire official, Lt. David Elmer, said earlier that eight people had been reported hurt. Because the shooter remained at large, "There are still some we can't get to," Elmer said. A woman who answered the phone at one store said her manager told her police had ordered a lockdown at the shopping center, and a police dispatcher said the situation was "still in progress." Last edited by Joe : 11-20-2005 at 03:47 PM.

11-20-2005, 05:04 PM	#4
Yellow5 High School Varsity Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tacoma, Wa.	I live a few miles from this mall, it's actually in the South end of Tacoma, not downtown. My wife was entering the mall at the time. She said that people were running out, most of them on their phones, and people were yelling that someone was shooting everyone. She was entering the mall near the JC Penny which is the end that the shooting started. Just ahppy she made it home okay. I've got my scanner on but all I've heard was the medic units as they were on their way to the mall. Most of the Tacoma fire department was called to the scene, and now I hear they also have found "suspicious package". Nice. Sorry for the scattered post. Just freaks me out that my wife was right there when it happened and that we are so close. __________________ Xbox Gamertag: m0nk3y b0t

11-20-2005, 07:14 PM	#7
sterlingice Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Back in Houston!	Whoa, Yellow5, that's scary. Glad everything is ok. SI __________________ Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!"

11-20-2005, 07:43 PM	#8
Yellow5 High School Varsity Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tacoma, Wa.	Thank you. The guy (kid) was caught. He opened fire near the Santa stand where children were getting pictures taken. He had a child as a hostage early on but let the kid go. I guess he was holding a couple of hostages in a Sam Goody store. He tied bells to them and then fell asleep... No deaths, and only two people remain in the hospital right now. It is amazing that more people were not hurt. __________________ Xbox Gamertag: m0nk3y b0t

11-20-2005, 08:09 PM	#9
vex Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tulsa	TACOMA, Wash. - A gunman opened fire inside a busy shopping mall Sunday, wounding at least six people and taking three others hostage in a music store before a SWAT team arrested him, authorities said. Witnesses described seeing a man walking backward through the mall, firing a rifle. At least six people were injured, one critically, as shoppers and store clerks scrambled for cover. Tacoma Police spokesman Mark Fulghum said the suspect was a young man, but he had no other details or possible motives. Story continues below ↓ advertisement A SWAT team arrested him without firing a shot, and police were interviewing the victims and hostages to determine what happened during the nearly four hours he was inside, Fulghum said. Record store employees taken hostage While the suspect was still in the Sam Goody music store, employee Joe Hudson was able to pick up the phone call from The Associated Press and say he and others had been taken hostage. He said little more but could be heard telling others that he was talking to the AP. Susan Serdeau said she also called her daughter, Kathy Riggans, 24, a manager at Sam Goody, as soon as she heard about the shooting. “She was upset and scared. She was crying,” Serdeau said, standing in a parking lot near the mall. “All she would say was that she was OK.” Authorities said they began getting calls about 12:15 p.m. that shots had been fired inside the Tacoma Mall. The first caller said there was a gunman, “He was in the mall, walking along, firing,” Fulghum said. State Patrol and police units from nearby agencies clustered around an entrance at the south end. Witnesses recount shooting Inside, Stacy Wilson, 29, of Bonney Lake, heard a popping noise and turned around. “I saw the gunman randomly shooting. I ran with a group of women to Victoria’s Secret,” Wilson said. She said they crouched behind a wall in the store, and when the shooting stopped, an employee ran out and closed a security gate at the front. Wilson said she heard 15 to 20 shots. “He was walking backward and shooting. I couldn’t see his face,” she said. “Everyone was running and screaming.” Betz Dejarnatt, who works at the J.C. Penney store, said workers were herded into dressing rooms and offices, then police took them outside to a parking lot. Six people were taken to hospitals, most with minor injuries, according to Tacoma Fire Department Deputy Chief Jon Lendosky. One person was in critical condition at Tacoma General Hospital, spokesman Todd Kelley said.

11-20-2005, 03:47 PM	#3
albionmoonlight Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Carolina	Not to say that what just happened is any more or less tragic based on where it happened, but you may want to edit your title to lessen confusion; before I clicked on the thread, I thought that there had been a shooting at the National Mall in Washington D.C.

11-20-2005, 05:32 PM	#5
Joe Pro Starter Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Minneapolis	glad she's okay

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