Vancouver Mall Shooting: What Happened at Food Court While Kids & Parents Celebrated Halloween?

The Vancouver Police Department reported that they were dispatched to the mall located at 8700 NE Vancouver Mall Drive following shooting reports around 7:30 p.m.

A shooting at Vancouver Mall created a frightening situation for families celebrating Halloween. Authorities have indicated that the suspect remains at large and may be armed.

The Vancouver Fire Department reported that one person lost their life, and two others were injured in a shooting at Vancouver Mall on October 31, 2024. The Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said the injured were taken to a nearby hospital.

Although the suspect remained at large, Kapp informed the public at a 9:40 p.m. press conference that there was no ongoing threat within the mall. The police allowed individuals sheltering inside to safely exit the premises. They also shared that they got reports of an ongoing shooting and responded at around 7:30 p.m.

The Vancouver police also wrote in their release, "Witnesses reported that a person in the food court area shot another individual and fired other rounds that struck two other individuals. When police arrived, they located one person deceased and two other people who were injured who were transferred to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment of their injuries."

A witness described the chaotic scene in the mall during the shooting, noting that it was particularly distressing given that many children were present, celebrating Halloween by trick-or-treating. The shopping center was running a trick-or-treating event for all ages, scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m.

The witness was scared for these kids, narrating the experience, "Terrifying. The most terrifying thing that I've ever seen .. very scary. It happened so fast. There's a lot of kids here tonight. That was my first thought."

She disclosed that kids' cries could be heard everywhere in the mall. One particularly emotional moment stuck with her, as she recalled, "One girl saying, 'I don't want to die, I don't want to die.' She was probably eight years old."

The witness, who chose to remain anonymous, was lucky to make it out of the mall alive. Kapp also shared that she believes no children were injured.

One witness, Gregory Iiams was concerned for his kids and wife. He was at Round1 with his wife and two children after enjoying trick-or-treating with his 4-year-old daughter. As they played, a wave of panic swept through when people began to rush out of the venue.

Instinctively, Iiams shielded his kids, positioning them behind him while trying to understand the commotion. Following the fleeing crowd, he overheard someone mention an active shooter.

Another witness, Natalya Brown, was working in the mall approximately 30 minutes before closing time. She described the incident, "We were starting to wrap up. We heard a loud sound. I knew it was gunfire — seven to eight rounds. People started running."

Brown recounted that she and her colleagues quickly began pulling shoppers into their store, locking and barricading the gates shortly after 7:30 p.m. They remained confined inside until around 9 p.m. when police were finally able to make contact and assess the situation.

An 18-year-old witness, Ryan Tomlin from Vancouver, was still wearing his bowling shoes in the parking lot outside Macy's shortly after 8 p.m. He had just finished a bowling session with friends at Round1 when the chaos unfolded.

"I threw the first ball and we hear 'Shooter, shooter! Active shooter!' he said. The group of 18- and 19-year-olds initially doubted the seriousness of the situation until they stepped outside near the west end of the mall and encountered three police cars.

Initially, employees and shoppers inside the mall were instructed to shelter in place for their safety. Afterward, members of the Lower Columbia SWAT Team and other law enforcement agencies worked to clear the Vancouver Mall, ensuring all occupants were safely evacuated.

Meanwhile, outside the mall, those who had been shopping were reunited with their loved ones. A designated reunification area was established near the Hobby Lobby for individuals separated during the incident.

The investigation into the shooting is being led by Vancouver Police's Major Crimes Unit. At this time, authorities have not determined whether the incident was a targeted attack or a random act of violence.

Now, law enforcement officials stated that they are reviewing surveillance footage as part of the investigation to help identify the suspect. They encouraged anyone with relevant information to reach out to the Vancouver Police Department.