Americas

Americas

3 people dead in shooting in shopping mall in U.S. state of Maryland

25 January 2014 23:08 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Three people died Saturday morning in a shooting in a shopping mall in Columbia of the U.S. state of Maryland, local police said, APA reports quoting XInhua.

The Howard County Police confirmed on Twitter the deaths, adding that the identities of the victims remained unknown. One of the dead located near a gun and ammunition, it said.

People inside the mall were ordered to stay in place until police can clear each area safely, it said.

Earlier TV images showed police surrounded the Columbia Mall, with about 200 stores, which is near the U.S. capital of Washington D.C.

The mall was on lockdown by police right after the incident and roads near the mall have also been closed for safety reason.

Two victims with minor injuries were transported to Howard County General Hospital, police said.

Both the Howard County police and fire departments were on the scene and local authorities via Twitter advised people to avoid the area.

According to the police, so far, there is no confirmed motive in the shooting and they are working to identify the victims and shooter.

Some people are being released from the mall. They have been sheltering in place since the shooting in the morning.