Three killed in shooting at shopping mall near Seattle

Authorities looking for armed suspect seen walking toward highway

SEATTLE — A gunman opened fire in a crowded mall north of Seattle, killing three people and critically wounding another before fleeing Friday night, authorities said.

Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis said police were searching for a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a rifle who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5.

“We are still actively looking for the shooter. Stay indoors, stay secure,” Francis said at a news conference.

Authorities say the motive was unknown.

The deadly shooting happened in the Macy’s store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., about 60 miles north of Seattle. Francis said three females were killed, one male suffered life-threatening injuries and another female suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities had previously said four people were killed, but updated the number of fatalities after they were able to secure the scene.

Francis said at about 8:30 p.m. that the mall had been evacuated and emergency medical personnel were cleared to enter.

Stephanie Bose, an assistant general manager at Johnny Carino’s Italian restaurant near the Macy’s store at the mall, said she immediately locked the doors to the restaurant after hearing about the shooting from an employee’s boyfriend.

“He was trying to go to the mall and people were screaming,” she said. “It was frantic.”

She said he could see police at the doors with assault rifles and said they were no longer guarding the doors as of 9:30 p.m.

Gov. Jay Inslee said tragedy had struck the state. “We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect’s capture,” Inslee said in a statement.

The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1990.