Three women were killed during the attack at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, about an hour north of Seattle in Washington state on Saturday.
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But as it approached midnight, authorities revised the toll to four women dead, one man critically injured.
Francis said on Twitter that police were actively searching for the shooter, who was described as a “Hispanic male wearing gray” and last seen walking toward a nearby highway away from the mall.
Police released a closely cropped still from video surveillance of the young-looking suspect showing only his head and torso, though the full picture, published by local media, showed him holding what appeared to be a rifle.
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Washington governor Jay Inslee said tragedy had struck the state. “Stay close to friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect’s capture”.
Police responded to reports around 7pm local time shortly after the lone suspect walked into a Macy’s department store armed with a rifle and opened fire, killing three people and injuring at least two others.
Some of the people dashed out of the Macy’s store, unsure of where to go.
“We saw people being evacuated from the mall and running out to their cars”, she added.
Tari Caswell told the Skagit Valley Herald she was in a dressing room when she heard “what sounded like four balloons popping”.
“I didn’t know anything”, she said.
At first, she thought it was a drill.
The FBI’s Seattle field office said it was assisting local authorities in reviewing intelligence and was providing additional manpower.
“Trudi and I send our condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for anyone injured”, he said. Francis said survivors inside the mall would be transported via bus to His Place Community Church at 480 S Burlington Blvd, Burlington.
The mall said it would stay closed on Saturday as a mark of respect for the victims.
Stephanie Bose, an assistant general manager at Johnny Carino’s Italian restaurant, said a boyfriend of one of her employees came into the restaurant after trying to go to the shopping centre.
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Earlier this month, a man stabbed at least 10 people and was then shot and killed by an off-duty police officer in St. Cloud, Minn.
