At least five people were injured on Tuesday afternoon following a shooting at the Brass Mill Center mall in Waterbury, Connecticut.
The incident occurred around 4:40 p.m. and began with an argument between two individuals, according to police. During the confrontation, one of them pulled out a gun and opened fire, causing panic among shoppers who scrambled for safety and sheltered inside nearby stores.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as people tried to flee. “I saw people coming out of JCPenney and I heard some gunshots there, up top, right next to where Snipes was,” said Javon Turner, who witnessed the incident. “A girl got shot. She was losing a lot of blood. It was crazy, and I told everybody, ‘Get out of here, let’s go.’ I tried to get everybody out of here in safety.”
Five victims were taken to a nearby hospital. Some of them are reported to have sustained serious injuries. As of now, their identities and current conditions have not been released.
Following the shooting, Waterbury police began a store-by-store search to locate the shooter, who fled the scene. Investigators are using surveillance footage from the mall and evidence recovered at the scene to help identify the suspect and the weapon used.
“We recovered some evidence on the scene that’s assisting us in identifying the type of weapon that was used,” said Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo. “We’re hoping to identify the shooter through our investigative means and forensic technology.”
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont issued a statement expressing his concern and support for the victims and the community. “This afternoon there was a tragic mass shooting at the Brass Mill Center mall in Waterbury, a place where everyone should feel safe,” the governor said. “We are grateful to law enforcement, who acted swiftly. The Connecticut State Police will be assisting Waterbury Police with the investigation. Our hearts break for the Waterbury community, the victims, and their families.”
The investigation is ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward. Updates are expected as authorities continue working to identify and apprehend the suspect.