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FIVE people have been shot and rushed to the hospital in a horrifying mass shooting that caused chaos at a popular shopping center.
Shoppers were forced to shelter in place after a gunman opened fire following an argument, police said.
The shooting broke out at the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury, Connecticut, at around 4:40 pm on Tuesday.
The 1.1 million-square-foot mall was evacuated as some shoppers hid inside the building while cops raced to the scene.
Five people were hit by the gunfire and were taken to nearby hospitals.
Some of the victims’ injuries are more serious than others, but cops said there were no fatalities and there were no life-threatening injuries.
Three of the five victims were discharged from the hospital by Wednesday morning, the mayor said.
Officials said the other two victims were stable, including a woman who was shot in her spine.
All of the victims are between 18 and in their mid-20s, police said.
Cops have arrested 19-year-old Tajuan Washington and charged him with five counts of first-degree assault and weapons violations.
Washington is being held on a $2 million bond, Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said at a press briefing on Wednesday.
The shooter used a semiautomatic pistol and knew the victims, Spagnolo said.
“We do not believe this was a random act of violence,” Spagnolo said on Tuesday.
He said the gunman may have been aided by an accomplice.
Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said on Wednesday that the shooting was a “one-off incident.”
“It was not a random act of violence,” the mayor said.
“It was, in effect, two young men who knew each other, had a history and a past. They got into a beef here.
“The situation involved four young women accompanying the victim, and when the perpetrator was confronted – in a scenario that previously might have led to a fist fight – he emerged with a pistol instead. Armed, he shot the man with whom he had a dispute, as well as the four women who were with him.”
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont’s statement
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont shared a statement after a shooting left five victims with gunshot wounds at a mall in Waterbury, Connecticut, about 30 miles northwest of Hartford, on Tuesday.
“This afternoon there was a tragic mass shooting at the B[r]ass Mill Center in Waterbury, a place where everyone should feel safe,” Lamont said.
“We are grateful to law enforcement, who acted swiftly.
“Details are still forthcoming, but the [Connecticut State Police] will be assisting [the Waterbury Police Department] with the investigation.
“Our hearts break for the Waterbury community, the victims, and their families who have been impacted by this incident.”
Spagnolo said sheltering in place at the mall likely saved lives as the gunman opened fire.
“I think they mitigated a lot of what could have been a really bad incident here,” Spagnolo said on Tuesday.
“These acts occur. Unfortunately it’s the society we live in at time. But we can’t let it get us down.”
There were no officers posted inside the mall when the shooting occurred, but cops and first responders quickly swarmed the scene.
Cops said there is no current threat to the public after the attack.
“If anyone sees anything suspicious or out of the ordinary, we encourage them to contact their local police department or the Waterbury Police Department,” Spagnolo said.
WPD hasn’t returned The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said state police will help to investigate the shooting.
“This afternoon there was a tragic mass shooting at the B[r]ass Mill Center mall in Waterbury, a place where everyone should feel safe,” Lamont said in a statement.
“We are grateful to law enforcement, who acted swiftly.”
