Authorities are actively searching for a gunman after a shooting incident unfolded at Maplewood Mall in Minnesota on Sunday, resulting in one man being injured.
According to Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, two juveniles have been apprehended and are currently held at the Ramsey County Jail under suspicion of third-degree riot.
Investigations suggest that the gunfire erupted following a confrontation among a group of individuals on the mall’s lower level, as reported by local sources.
Upon arrival, law enforcement officers discovered a man who had sustained a gunshot wound to his hip. He was promptly taken to Regions Hospital, where it’s confirmed that his injury is not life-threatening.
Maplewood police noted that the adult male was shot during a disturbance near one of the mall entrances, highlighting the chaotic nature of the scene.
CBS News has provided a description of the suspected shooter, identifying him as a male with a slight build, wearing a black stocking hat, black jacket, white shirt, and black pants.
The Maplewood Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for additional information.
Miranda Klein, who works at Maplewood Mall, told Fox 9 that customers reported a fight in the bathroom shortly before gunfire rang out.
Authorities say two juveniles were arrested after a fight inside Maplewood Mall escalated into gunfire. (KMSP)
“The customer told me that there was fighting happening in the bathroom from a bunch of high school kids. And that was right when we heard the shot,” she said. “Of course, at first everybody was just confused. You can’t really process what happened until after it happens.”
Another employee, Cat Vang, said she heard gunshots and saw people running.
“We just heard like some gunshots and then we saw all the kids just like run the other direction,” Vang told reporters.
Police respond to a shooting inside Maplewood Mall that left one man hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries Sunday afternoon. (KMSP)
Maplewood Mall said in a statement to Fox News Digital that the shooting was an isolated incident and involved two individuals under the age of 22.
“We want to sincerely thank our local police officers and security team for their immediate response and professionalism,” the mall said. “Because of their quick action, the situation was safely contained before anyone else was injured. The safety of our guests, employees, and community remains our highest priority.”
