November 20th, local time, a shooting incident occurred in a shopping mall in Wisconsin, USA, injuring eight people and the gunman was at large.
The shooting occurred in Mayfair Mall, a suburb of Milwaukee, according to the Associated Press. Barry Webber, the police chief of the city of Wovatosa, said at a press conference on the 20th that the shooting occurred near the entrance of Macy’s at 2:50 p.m. on the same day. When the police arrived at the scene, the gunman had fled.
Weber said that the eight injured had been sent to the hospital for treatment, and the injury was not clear at present.
According to Weber, preliminary testimony from witnesses at the scene indicated that the shooter was a white male of 20 or 30. Investigators are identifying the suspect, and his motive is not clear.
According to CNN, eyewitness Jill Woolley said she heard 8 to 12 shots, which were “very close”. At the time of the accident, she ran to a store and hid in the storage room.
Weber said the Mayfair Mall will remain closed until further notice.
According to the New York Times, the mayor of Wawatosa, McBride, said that the shopping mall is the busiest commercial center in Milwaukee County. Its owner, Brookfield Real Estate, said in a statement the same day that it was frustrated and angry about the violence that happened today.
It is worth noting that there was also a shooting incident in Mayfair Mall in February this year. Joseph Mensa, an African-American police officer in the city of Wovatosa, shot and killed 17-year-old African-American man Alvin Cole.
Afterwards, the Milwaukee County District Attorney decided not to file a criminal charge against the officer. This decision triggered a wave of demonstrations there that lasted for several months. Recently, the city of Wovatosa approved the separation agreement of the officer, and he will receive at least $130,000 in severance compensation.
