A gunman with a rifle and multiple magazines of ammo opened fire at an Indiana shopping mall on Sunday, killing three people and injuring two others, before being taken down by a 22-year-old with a handgun who witnessed the shooting.
One of those injured in the attack at the Greenwood Park Mall south of Indianapolis was a 12-year-old girl who suffered a minor scratch on her back. The conditions of the other injured person are unknown. The three fatalities were reported to be in their 20s and 30s.
“The real hero of the day is the citizen that was lawfully carrying a firearm in that food court and was able to stop the shooter almost as soon as he began,” Ison said.
Police believe that the shooter acted alone. At this point he has only been described as an adult male. Officials have not speculated on a motive for the shooting.
Officials did not release the names of the victims, gunman or bystander. Shoppers and mall employees scattered at the sound of gunfire or hid.
James Arthur, who was in the mall with his family, told the Indianapolis Star that the gun ‘sounded like a big gun.’ Arthur said that he thought that he heard at least 20 rounds go off.
Another witness, Abigail, who works at the mall, told WRTV reporter Rafael Sanchez: “I was standing at the gate, ready to close for the day. I heard 30 gunshots and I just saw people running towards the store. I was just letting in as many people as I could before I shut the gate.”
She added: “I wanted to close the gate but people kept running at me… I have three kids at home and I just wanted to get home.”
Chris Roy, the assistant manager of the Vans store in the mall, relayed a similar story to the Indianapolis Star. Roy said that when he saw people running he “jumped over the counter, locked the door, gathered my associates and other managers at the back door.”
The police chief told reporters: “It appears that he had a rifle with several magazines of ammunition, entered the food court and began shooting.”
Chief Ison said that officials are studying security footage showing the moments before the shooting.
Officers were called shortly before 6 p.m. to Greenwood Park Mall, where gunshots were reportedly fired in the food court, assistant chief of police Chris Bailey said at a brief news conference earlier on Sunday.
Bailey, at the press conference, said: “You are seeing the best that public safety has to offer right now behind us. We are sickened by yet another type of incident like this in our country, in our city.’
Officials also said that a suspicious backpack was found in a bathroom close to where the shooting unfolded beside a Dick’s Sporting Goods store. It was investigated by the bomb squad before being deemed to not be a threat.
In a statement, Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers thanked the good Samaritan for his quick action.
The mayor said that while the shooter’s motive remains a mystery “we do know that someone we are calling the ‘Good Samaritan’ was able to shoot the assailant and stop further bloodshed. This person saved lives tonight. On behalf of the City of Greenwood, I am grateful for his quick action and heroism in this situation.”