Lockdown lifted after shooting at Mall of America

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Police are on the scene of a reported shooting inside the Mall of America.

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Update 10:17 p.m. EST Dec. 23:

Bloomington police announced the lockdown was lifted at the mall. Police said officers are working with mall security and the Hennepin County Crime Lab to process the area.

A representative for the mall told WCCO that the mall would remain closed for the rest of Friday evening.

Update 10:10 p.m. EST Dec. 23:

A spokesperson for the Bloomington Police Department confirmed to the Star Tribune that there was a shooting in the mall on Friday night. The spokesperson would not say where in the mall the shooting happened or offer the condition of any victims.

Original report:

A video shared on Twitter by WCCO reporter Allen Henry shows a massive police response outside the Nordstrom store at the mall.

The Mall of America said in a tweet that it is on lockdown, saying, “Please remain in the closest secure location until the lockdown has been lifted.”

Bloomington police confirmed they were on the scene of a reported shooting and asked people to stay out of the area.

A police spokesperson would not confirm where in the mall the shooting reportedly happened or whether anyone was hurt, the Star Tribune reported.

Dan Kauppi told the Star Tribune that he was shopping in the mall when he heard an alarm.

“An alarm went off in the mall, which was unusual, and an announcement said a lockdown was happening and to go into a store and head to the back. The store I am in closed their front gates. After a few moments they said we should head to the stock room.”

The reported shooting comes just two days before Christmas and at a time when malls and stores see an increase in shoppers ahead of the holiday, according to the AP.

Check back for more on this developing story.

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