OMAHA, Neb. DEC. 5, 2007 - A gunman opened fire Wednesday at a busy Omaha mall, wounding at least one person and forcing police to lock down the shopping center while they searched for the shooter.
It was not immediately clear whether the gunman was still inside the Westroads Mall or whether other people were hurt. Police refused to confirm any injuries or arrests.
A witness, Todd Trimpe, told Omaha television station KMTV that he saw police apprehend a man who was hiding under a bus stop bench outside the mall. Trimpe said the man was dressed in camouflage.
Keith Fidler, a Von Maur employee, said he heard a burst of five to six shots followed by 15 to 20 more rounds. Fidler said he huddled in the corner of the men's clothing department with about a dozen other employees until police yelled to get out of the store.
Fidler said he did not see the shooting but saw a person lying still by an elevator as he was leaving the store.
A woman who answered the phone at an Old Navy store said 20 to 30 customers were huddled with employees in a back storeroom.
"All we know was people were running and screaming down the hallway by Von Maur saying there was a shooting, and then they locked us down," said the woman, who said her name was Heidi.
Police were allowing some people to leave the mall, but no one was permitted to enter. Shortly after the shooting, a group of shoppers came out of the building with their hands raised, Some were still holding shopping bags.
Kevin Kleine, 29, who was shopping with her 4-year-old daughter, said she hid in a dressing room with four other shoppers and an employee.
"My knees rocked. I didn't know what to do, so I just ran with everybody else," Kleine said.
A witness, Shawn Vidlak, said he heard four or five rapid shots "like a nail gun." At first he thought it was noise from construction work going on at the mall.
"People started screaming about gunshots," Vidlak said. "I grabbed my wife and kids we got out of there as fast as we could."
Shopper Chol Khor said he was shopping inside J.C. Penney when the shooting occurred.
"I heard something like a balloon pop," he said. "Then two women came running into the store and said there had been a shooting."
President Bush was in town Wednesday for a fundraiser in Omaha, but left about an hour before the shooting.
A witness, Todd Trimpe, told Omaha television station KMTV that he saw police apprehend a man who was hiding under a bus stop bench outside the mall. Trimpe said the man was dressed in camouflage.
Keith Fidler, a Von Maur employee, said he heard a burst of five to six shots followed by 15 to 20 more rounds. Fidler said he huddled in the corner of the men's clothing department with about a dozen other employees until police yelled to get out of the store.
Fidler said he did not see the shooting but saw a person lying still by an elevator as he was leaving the store.
A woman who answered the phone at an Old Navy store said 20 to 30 customers were huddled with employees in a back storeroom.
"All we know was people were running and screaming down the hallway by Von Maur saying there was a shooting, and then they locked us down," said the woman, who said her name was Heidi.
Police were allowing some people to leave the mall, but no one was permitted to enter. Shortly after the shooting, a group of shoppers came out of the building with their hands raised, Some were still holding shopping bags.
Kevin Kleine, 29, who was shopping with her 4-year-old daughter, said she hid in a dressing room with four other shoppers and an employee.
"My knees rocked. I didn't know what to do, so I just ran with everybody else," Kleine said.
A witness, Shawn Vidlak, said he heard four or five rapid shots "like a nail gun." At first he thought it was noise from construction work going on at the mall.
"People started screaming about gunshots," Vidlak said. "I grabbed my wife and kids we got out of there as fast as we could."
Shopper Chol Khor said he was shopping inside J.C. Penney when the shooting occurred.
"I heard something like a balloon pop," he said. "Then two women came running into the store and said there had been a shooting."
President Bush was in town Wednesday for a fundraiser in Omaha, but left about an hour before the shooting.
EMAIL US: News, comments, questions to; adminassist@privateofficer.com
4 comments:
I sm so very sorry for the lives that are lost today.....I am even sorrier that those that lost, once again are INNOCENT!!! If someone feels jilted by society at times....You should just get over it! Find another path in life to get past it. Once again these are INNOCENT people....Just going about their days... Just like the people at 9/11 just going thru their normal days or innocent children going to school...... If you are that desperate I am so sorry why take INNOCENT people with you !!!! God bless the INNOCENT Souls
It's really unbelievable that this kinda of random killing takes place over and over again. This is the fourth mass shooting this year that occurred at a mall/strip mall. All shopping malls should put up a metal detector at each and every entrance. Infact, every place where there is a significant group of people should have one.
President Bush continues his "War on Terror" campaign which only focuses on foreign nationals, mainly Muslims.(And no, I an mot Muslim) Bush should be much more concerned with the mental state of his own US citizens, who are plagued by darkness. Yet,(physical) health care benefits continue to dwindle, and no one pays attention to the terrorists that lurk in our small towns and backyards. When are we gonna wake up and take some measures to protect the lives of innocent people.????How many more people need to die before we take any sort of action?
Hawkins was described as a "poor lost puppy" by his current landlord. Regardless of her character summary of Hawkins, he will never be remembered as he wished, "famous." But remembered as only a coward who cannot face society, and life itself!!!
It's really unbelievable that this kinda of random killing takes place over and over again. This is the fourth mass shooting this year that occurred at a mall/strip mall. All shopping malls should put up a metal detector at each and every entrance. Infact, every place where there is a significant group of people should have one.
President Bush continues his "War on Terror" campaign which only focuses on foreign nationals, mainly Muslims.(And no, I an mot Muslim) Bush should be much more concerned with the mental state of his own US citizens, who are plagued by darkness. Yet,(physical) health care benefits continue to dwindle, and no one pays attention to the terrorists that lurk in our small towns and backyards. When are we gonna wake up and take some measures to protect the lives of innocent people.????How many more people need to die before we take any sort of action?
Hawkins was described as a "poor lost puppy" by his current landlord. Regardless of her character summary of Hawkins, he will never be remembered as he wished, "famous." But remembered as only a coward who cannot face society, and life itself
Hawkins was on anti-depressants. Then, he lost his job and split from his girl friend. He probably couldn't pay for his meds...just when he was in greatest need. With todays economy and a society that has lost spiritual resources, we need health care more than ever.
How many more victims will there be before mental and physical health becomes a right of every American???
Post a Comment