Washington Vancouver Mall shooting kills one person during Halloween event

One person was killed Thursday evening when shots were fired at a mall in Washington state as the shopping complex was hosting a Halloween trick-or-treating event.

The fatal shooting occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. PST in the Vancouver Mall's second-floor food court as shoppers ran to safety from the building, the Colombian reported, citing emergency scanners.

Two people were injured and taken to a local hospital, Vancouver police said on X. Nothing was initially known about her condition.

“There is currently no active threat within the mall and police are making contact with individuals who were inside the mall,” the department said. “Further information will be released as it becomes available.”

The chaotic scene unfolded as the mall wrapped up its annual trick-or-treating event.

The mall-wide Halloween celebration encouraged community members of all ages to dress up in costumes and visit specific stores that were handing out candy.

The event was scheduled to end at 8 p.m

A father had just finished trick-or-treating with his wife and children and was in the mall's Round1 bowling alley when people ran out of the bowling alley before he learned of an active shooter.

“I grabbed my two kids and put them behind me,” Gregory Iiams told the Columbian.

Officials have not released any details about the shooter or the victims.

The 880,000-square-foot mall features more than 140 stores and is located 7 miles north of the Columbia River, which separates Washington state from Portland, Oregon.