Gunman Killed During Black Friday Sales

2 others injured at Alabama mall
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 23, 2018 4:39 AM CST
Updated Nov 23, 2018 6:46 AM CST
Gunman Killed During Black Friday Sales
Police say they already had extra officers at the scene to deal with crowds.   (Getty Images)

Alabama's biggest mall is closed until further notice after a shooting that left two people injured and the suspect dead. The incident happened Thursday night at Riverchase Galleria in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover, which had been scheduled to stay open until midnight ahead of Black Friday sales, NBC reports. Police say the suspect shot an 18-year-old man after an altercation around 9:30pm. A 12-year-old girl was also injured by gunfire. Witnesses said they heard up to 10 shots. Police say the gunman fled and was shot dead by two uniformed officers who confronted him nearby, WBRC reports.

Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector says the 12-year-old girl was hit by a single bullet and did not suffer life-threatening injuries, CNN reports. He says the 18-year-old is in serious condition. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as hundreds of shoppers fled the mall. "We are devastated by the incident that happened tonight in our shopping center," the mall said in a statement. "We are working closely with the Hoover Police Department and are grateful for their swift action to contain the situation. While there is no current danger to our community, the shopping center will remain closed until further notice." (In 2016, three people were killed in Black Friday shootings.)

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