10 people shot at SC mall; ‘don’t believe it was random’ says police chief Police car lights (Dreamstime/TNS)
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Ten people were shot and two more were injured inside of a mall in Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday. Police have detained three armed suspects in connection with the incident and believe they knew each other and that the shooting did not begin at random.
During a press conference following the shooting incident, Columbia Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook said officers received a call at around 2 p.m. on Saturday morning, reporting multiple gunshots at the Columbia Centre mall. Holbrook said
— Columbia Police Dept (@ColumbiaPDSC) April 16, 2022
Holbrook said of the 12 people injured at the mall, there have been no fatalities. The Associated Press reported those injured ranged in age from 15 to 73-years-old.
Of those 12 injured, ten suffered gunshot wounds and eight of those people self-reported being transported to area hospitals. Of the eight people hospitalized, two are in critical condition and the other six were in stable condition.
The two people who were not injured by gunfire, were hurt in the stampede of the crowd after the shooting began.
Holbrook said police have detained three people who had firearms.
“What we know is at least three people were seen with firearms inside of the mall,” Holbrook said. “And at least one person fired a weapon.”
Holbrook added that police assessments of how many people fired their weapons could change and he said anyone who may have witnessed the shooting, took video of the incident or heard anything about what happened is asked to contact the Columbia Police Department’s criminal investigation bureau.
When asked about the potential motives of the suspects, Holbrook said “We don’t believe this was random.
“We believe they knew each other and there was some type of conflict that had occurred that resulted in gunfire,” Holbrook said.
