Nine killed in shooting at Omaha mall, including gunman

[caudio51]

Sent a text to Wasch, he's okay. Unfortunately the other nine are not.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/05/mall.shooting/index.html

Police: Nine killed in shooting at Omaha mall, including gunman

• Story Highlights
• NEW: The person believed to be the gunman dies of a self-inflicted gunshot wound
• NEW: Three of the wounded are in critical condition
• Shoppers describe hiding in clothes racks and bathrooms after hearing the shots
• Witness: It sounded like someone shooting fireworks

(CNN) -- A gunman killed eight people and wounded five others Wednesday at the popular Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska, before apparently turning the gun on himself, police said.
"We do not believe that we have any other shooter," said Sgt. Teresa Negron.
Seven people died at the scene, and two -- a man and a woman -- died after reaching Creighton University Medical Center.
Three of the wounded are in critical condition.
The shootings began just before 2 p.m. at the Von Maur store inside the shopping complex.
The gunman had a rifle, Negron said.

Watch police talk about the shooting »
After the shootings began, shoppers and employees streamed out of the building with their hands up.
Some described hiding in clothes racks, dressing rooms and bathrooms after hearing the shots.

Watch witnesses describe the ordeal »
"I was standing around getting ready to go back to work and all of a sudden I heard this bang, bang, bang -- it sounded like someone shooting fireworks," a witness told CNN affiliate KETV. "I ran to get away from whatever was happening."
Shoppers described scenes of horror as they fled the mall.
"We heard about 35, 40 shots, and on our way our we did see someone down by the escalator, bleeding," Jennifer Cramer told KETV.
Another witness said people started running frantically from the Von Maur area saying there was a shooting.
"I heard three loud pops," said mall employee Charissa Tatoon. "Immediately after that, there was a series of maybe 20 to 25 more shots up on the third floor." She said she saw a man shot on the second floor and "at least four or five" people brought out on gurneys.
As news of the shooting spread, people gathered outside the mall, checking on loved ones who were inside.
The shopping center will be closed until at least Thursday, police said.

 

[cvm4]

What's the point of these shootings? Just kill yourself and do us all a favor.

 

[dpricenator]

How scary to be near by. Prayers go out to thhe familys of the victims.

 

[jwintosh]

just read it! what a f'd up society we've spawned.... makes me sick!

Tom, thanks for letting us know Todd's okay

 

[Greg]

Damn...how sad.

The killer was 19.

 

[caudio51]

Damn, 19....just sad....

 

[Yarr]

Yeah local coverage here all afternoon/evening on TV. What a shame..thoughts/prayers go out to the families of the victims.

 

[WhiteLightning]

What a shame.

 

[BradMc]

So sad...........

 

[Wasch_24]

I was actually supposed to go to that mall yesterday to pick up some stuff durin glunch but I didin't have time...whew.

 

[Broadway Joe]

What a terrible situation! It'll be a couple of days before we get more facts, but I'm sure they'll be warning signs that were missed :-(

 

[Klusterbuck]

What ticks me off, is that he has now been quoted as saying this "will make me famous."

Guess what. The national news has made him "famous", even though I don't know the little shit's name.....

Real problem is, the news has to get out. But how can it be done without making these buttholes "famous".

 

[njsarge]

Too bad there wasn't an off duty cop or a citizen carrying a legal handgun. Could have put an end to this before too many people were killed.

 

[caudio51]

Too bad there wasn't an off duty cop or a citizen carrying a legal handgun. Could have put an end to this before too many people were killed.

I was thinking the exact same thing.