3 Killed, 2 Injured In Indiana Mall Shooting; Gunman Fatally Shot By Armed Bystander

KEY POINTS

The gunman entered the mall with a rifle and several magazines of ammunition
Multiple shots were fired at the mall's food court before the suspect was fatally shot
Police confiscated a suspicious backpack that was found inside a bathroom

Greenwood, Indiana -- Four people, including the shooter, were killed and two others were injured after a man opened fire inside an Indiana shopping mall Sunday evening.

An armed bystander shot the gunman to death, authorities said.

The incident took place after the shooter entered the Greenwood Park Mall with a rifle and several magazines of ammunition. He fired multiple shots at the mall's food court, Greenwood Police Department Chief Jim Ison said at a news conference.

"It appears that he had a rifle with several magazines of ammunition, entered the food court, and began shooting," he said about the suspect.

A "Good Samaritan" who witnessed the incident opened fire with the intention of putting an end to the shooting, according to Ison. The witness fatally shot the suspect inside the mall, NBC News reported.

A suspicious backpack found in a bathroom near the food court was confiscated, Ison added.

"This type of situation is horrible," he said. "It's rocked us to our core."

There are multiple casualties reference this incident. There is no known ongoing threat. Multiple agencies are assisting with clearing the mall. https://t.co/OBmm6IdYUd
— IMPD (@IMPDnews) July 17, 2022

The incident occurred around 6 p.m., which is reportedly the mall's closing time. The first emergency calls to report the shooting were received around 6.05 p.m., USA Today reported.

Chris Roy, assistant manager of Vans shoe store, recalled seeing people run through the hallway right before the mall's closure.

"So, I jumped over the counter, locked the door, gathered my associates and other managers at the back door," the 30-year-old assistant manager told the outlet. "We just instructed everybody to keep quiet."

The shooter was identified as an adult male. No details were revealed about the motive behind the shooting.

Witnesses inside the mall told 13News they heard around 20 gunshots coming from the food court.

Among the individuals injured in the incident was a 12-year-old girl who sustained a minor injury to her back.

Indianapolis Assistant Chief of Police Chris Bailey said there is no active threat in the area, AP News reported. "We are sickened by yet another type of incident like this in our country."

Mayor Mark Myers released a statement in light of the shooting and asked for "prayers to the victims and our first responders."

"This tragedy hits at the core of our community," Myers added.

This is a developing story.