olice in San Jose say a San Jose mall shooting on Black Friday forced the evacuation of Westfield Valley Fair, one of the Bay Area’s largest shopping centres, after at least two people were wounded by gunfire. The incident unfolded on Friday afternoon, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, as crowds packed the mall at the start of the U.S. holiday shopping season.
The San Jose Police Department described the San Jose mall shooting as an isolated incident rather than an active-shooter situation, and said officers moved quickly to clear the building and search for any additional threats. Shoppers were ordered to leave the mall while officers swept stores and common areas to confirm there was no further danger to the public.
According to police, the injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital after officers responded to reports of shots being fired at the mall. San Jose and neighbouring Santa Clara, where Valley Fair sits near the city line, are roughly 50 miles (80 kilometres) south of San Francisco.
San Jose mall shooting: what police say about victims and suspect
Initial statements from authorities said two people suffered gunshot wounds in the San Jose mall shooting and were transported to the hospital. Local news outlets later reported that a third person may also have been injured, including a teenage girl, though all injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
Police have characterised the San Jose mall shooting as stemming from a dispute rather than random gunfire, saying an argument between the suspected gunman and a male victim preceded the shots. Two female bystanders were reported to have been hit by stray bullets after the suspect opened fire. As of the latest updates from local authorities, the shooter fled the scene and had not been immediately taken into custody.
Investigators are reviewing security footage and speaking to witnesses in an effort to identify the suspect and establish a clearer timeline of the San Jose mall shooting. Police have also pledged an increased law-enforcement presence around the mall in the short term, given the heavy visitor traffic over the holiday weekend.
San Jose mall shooting: scenes of panic among Black Friday crowds
The San Jose mall shooting caused moments of panic as shoppers rushed to escape or shelter inside shops. Witnesses told local media they saw people running for exits and barricading themselves in changing rooms and storerooms after hearing multiple loud bangs. Some retailers locked their doors while customers hid behind counters or display racks until officers reached their location and escorted them out.
The Black Friday crowds at Valley Fair meant the San Jose mall shooting disrupted what retailers expected to be one of the most lucrative days of the year. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is traditionally regarded in the retail industry as the unofficial start of the U.S. holiday shopping season and often draws some of the largest in-store crowds of the year.
After the San Jose mall shooting, officers methodically cleared the mall store by store before declaring there was no ongoing threat. The mall was later expected to reopen with enhanced security and support for customers who had left belongings behind during the evacuation.
San Jose mall shooting: location and background of Westfield Valley Fair
The San Jose mall shooting took place at Westfield Valley Fair, a large regional shopping centre that straddles the border between San Jose and Santa Clara. The mall is one of the busiest in Northern California, housing major department stores, luxury brands and a wide range of restaurants and entertainment venues.
Local officials have previously highlighted the economic importance of the centre to the region, as well as the challenges of policing large crowds in such a high-traffic retail hub. While police have stressed that the San Jose mall shooting appears to have been an isolated incident, the case adds to broader concerns about gun violence in public spaces across the United States.
In response to the San Jose mall shooting, city leaders praised first responders for their actions and expressed support for the victims, while promising that investigators would continue working to identify and arrest the suspect.
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San Jose mall shooting: safety guidance for shoppers in crowded venues
Authorities say the San Jose mall shooting underlines the importance of remaining aware of surroundings in crowded venues, particularly during major sales events such as Black Friday. Shoppers are generally advised to follow instructions from mall security and police immediately, move away from danger if it is safe to do so and avoid returning to an affected area until authorities say it is clear.
In the wake of the San Jose mall shooting, police have encouraged anyone with video, photographs or first-hand information from inside Westfield Valley Fair at the time of the incident to contact investigators. Tipsters can typically use non-emergency lines, dedicated hotlines or anonymous reporting services, depending on local arrangements, to assist with the investigation.
Holiday shoppers returning to Valley Fair and other large centres after the San Jose mall shooting are advised to identify exits when they arrive, keep mobile phones charged and consider arranging meeting points with friends or family in case they become separated during an emergency.
Sources:
ABC News – “Shopping mall shooting wounds 2, prompts Black Friday evacuation in the Bay Area”
San Francisco Chronicle – “Black Friday shooting at Bay Area mall leaves three wounded”
