Seven adults and one teenager were injured after a gunman reportedly opened fire inside a Mayfair shopping mall near Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Friday.
Described as a white male in his 20s or 30s, the suspect fled the scene before officers arrived at the mall in Wauwatosa, said Police Chief Barry Weber in an update. He gave no motive for the shooting but assured that there were no fatalities in the incident.
The attack, which took place around 2:50 p.m. Friday, prompted a huge police presence at the scene. Wauwatosa police said investigators believe that the shooting “was not a random act, and was the result of an altercation.”
“The Mayfair Mall property has been cleared and is secure. Mayfair Mall management has indicated that the mall will be closed tomorrow, Saturday, November 21. Law enforcement personnel will remain at the mall into the night processing the scene,” it said in a tweet.
The Wauwatosa police added, “We will continue to work diligently to interview the many witnesses, as well as the victims who were injured, to identify and apprehend the suspect.”
Preliminary investigation has led us to believe that this shooting was not a random act, and was the result of an altercation. We will continue to work diligently to interview the many witnesses, as well as the victims who were injured, to identify and apprehend the suspect.
— Wauwatosa Police (WI) (@WauwatosaPD) November 21, 2020
Mayor Dennis McBride said the shooter remains at large.
In a statement hours later, Mayfair Mall said, “We are disheartened and angered that our guests and tenants were subject to this violent incident today. We are thankful for our partners at the Wauwatosa Police Department and we are cooperating with them as their investigation develops.”
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers in a tweet said he’s “thinking about all the customers and workers affected by this act of violence and are grateful for the first responders who helped get people to safety. As we learn more, we offer our support for the entire Wauwatosa community as they grapple with this tragedy.”