A tragic shooting at a Washington State mall on Halloween resulted in one death and two injuries during the shopping complex’s annual trick-or-treat celebrations. The incident occurred at Vancouver Mall just after 7:30 PM PST on October 31, 2024, as the venue was adorned for festive activities, according to The Mirror US.
Gunfire erupted in the food court on the second floor just moments before the mall’s trick-or-treating event was set to end. In response, hundreds of shoppers fled for safety, with many seeking refuge inside stores and others rushing to the parking lot.
Witness Natalya Brown recounted the terrifying moment, stating that she heard multiple gunshots while preparing to close the store. “We were starting to wrap up. I heard a loud sound, which I recognized as gunfire—seven to eight rounds. People started running,” she recalled.
Gregory Liams, a father who had just finished trick-or-treating with his wife and two children, described the chaos as they were still in the bowling area. “I grabbed my two kids and put them behind me,” he told The Columbian.
The injured individuals were promptly taken to a local hospital, as reported by Vancouver Police on social media. The shooting occurred during the mall’s “Boo-tacular Trick-or-Treating” event, which had attracted many families with children in costumes, and was scheduled to conclude at 8 PM.
Officials reassured the public, stating, “There is currently no active threat inside the mall, and police are making contact with individuals who were sheltering in place inside the mall. More information will be released as soon as it becomes available.”
Authorities have not yet provided details about the shooter or the victims involved.
