VANCOUVER, Wash. — Children and parents hid in stores and anywhere they could find shelter when shots rang out during a trick-or-treating event Thursday night at the Vancouver Mall.
The shooting, which happened on the second floor of the mall in the food court, left one man dead and two injured. The two people who were injured, both men between the ages of 30 and 40, were treated and released from the hospital.
Police are still looking for the shooter but said there is no active threat. They said they believe the fatal shooting was a targeted attack. They also reported Friday morning that the shooter was wearing a Halloween mask. As of Friday morning, no arrests have been made.
KGW spoke to a shopper who hid with parents and their children when the shooting started.
Hector Hurtado said the mall was packed with families and children walking around in their costumes, with everyone enjoying the holiday activities. He said the festive mood quickly "flipped into a horrifying scene ... with parents lifting their children off the ground and trying to find shelter."
Hurtado said he was with about 20 other people, including parents and children, who hid inside an Old Navy store after the shooting started. He credited store employees, who ushered them into a back office area, where they waited until the SWAT team told them they could come out.
"The children were upset, they were crying. The parents were crying," he said. "There was a woman holding her baby who had left her stroller (behind), because they just had to run."
He said after they were able to leave, the scene in front of them was shocking. "Just seeing the aftermath, all the toys and things left behind by families, and strollers," he said.
Vancouver police said anyone who left personal property behind at the mall Thursday night can pick it up in the mall security office or contact mall security for information.
The mall will reopen Friday at 3 p.m.