Gunman escapes in Wisconsin mall attack
WAUWATOSA, Wis. — Police searched Friday evening for the suspect in a shooting at a suburban Milwaukee mall that left seven adults and a teenager injured.
Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber gave no motive for the attack at the Mayfair Mall in a brief update about three hours after the 2:50 p.m. incident near an entrance to theMacy’s store. He said the extent of the eight victims’ injuries was unknown, but all were alive. He added that the shooter was “no longer at the scene” when authorities arrived.
“Preliminary statements from witnesses indicate that the shooter is a white male in his 20s or 30s,” Weber told reporters. “Investigators are working on determining
the identity of that suspect.”
The chief called the mall an active crime scene and asked people to continue
to stay away. He said the mall would remain closed until further notice.
Witnesses told WISN-TV that they had heard what
they believed to be eight to 12 gunshots. Some people remained in the mall while police searched for a suspect. The station interviewed several people outside the mallwho said they had friends sheltered inside stores while the search was ongoing.
Jill Wooley was inside Macy’s with her 79-yearold mother when they heard eight to 12 gunshots just outside the store entrance.
“We heard the first shot fired and knewimmediately it was a gunshot,” Wooley told CBS58 in Milwaukee. “We both just dropped to the floor.”
An agent who wouldn’t give his name said the mall was being “methodically” cleared. Heavily armed FBI personnel were visible at the mall.
Mall operator Brookfield Properties said in a statement they were “disheartened and angered that our guests and tenants were subject to this violent incident today.” They declined further comment.