On Sunday evening, three people were fatally shot, and two were injured when a gunman opened fire in a food court in Indiana. According to the police, an armed civilian shot and killed the gunman.
Greenwood Police Department Chief Jim Ison shared that the gunman entered the Greenwood Park Mall armed with a rifle and several magazines of ammunition. Reuters reported the "Good Samaritan" who shot him was a 22 year-old lawfully carrying a firearm while shopping with his girlfriend and 'stopped the gunman almost as soon the suspect opened fire.'
The shooter was identified as a 20-year-old with no adult criminal history. But authorities did share that he had a juvenile record.
Police said on Monday that the shooter entered the mall just before 5 p.m. and sat in the bathroom for around an hour before coming out and opening fire.
The shooter opened fire at civilians in the food court before the armed civilian killed him. In total, four people were killed, and two were injured.
At a news conference, Ison identified those shot as one male and four females. The man and one of the women, were identified as Mr. and Mrs. Pineda, a married couple who was killed.
Those injured, one of which was a 12-year-old girl who Ison said had a "minor" wound, are in stable condition.
"She went home, told her parents, and they called us, and we responded," Ison said. "She was transported to the hospital for a checkout. She is expected to be just fine."
Police identified the bystander who shot and killed the shooter less than three minutes after the shooting began as 22-year-old Elijah Dicken. Ison said Dicken's actions were 'nothing short of heroic.'
"Many more people would've died last night if not for a responsible armed citizen that took action very quickly within the first two minutes of the shooting," Ison told reporters.
Police recovered a suspicious backpack in a bathroom near the food court, and Ison shared it did not contain any explosive devices and that he would not elaborate further on what was inside.
The motive behind the shooting is unknown, but local authorities are investigating to determine if those who were shot were targeted.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is assisting the investigation along with other agencies, and assistant chief of police Chris Bailey shared that they are sickened by yet another type of incident like this in our country."
The shooter is also believed to have bought the 5.56-cal rifle he used legally back in March, according to police. It is also believed he had two more weapons and 100 rounds of ammunition with him.
Related
