Utah Teen Goes on a Shooting Rampage in the Mall

In Salt Lake City, Utah a teenage boy shoots up shoppers in a busy mall Monday evening killing 5 and injuring 4 before he is shot by local police.

The 18 year old shooter, whose name has not yet been released, appeared in a large trench coat at the mall with a gun full of ammunition. Witnesses say he shot at customers randomly and injured 4 and killed 5 before police shot him to death. Store employees report that the shooter had an un-emotional look on his face and appeared calm during the rampage. While witnesses hid, they could hear several rounds of shots, one after the other and the noise was overpowering. People hid under stairs, behind counters, in bathrooms, clothing racks, wherever they thought they could escape death as the gunman tour through the mall. Investigators are not yet sure of a motive and are gathering information about the suspect at this time.

Hundreds of people were hiding and scared during and after the shooting at the historical Utah mall. Police spent hours Monday evening searching stores and shopping areas to help frightened customers and let them know the shooting was over. During the after shooting police treated all shoppers as suspects until they knew the situation and who the suspect was. Witnesses say many store windows were shot out and glass and bullet shells littered the floors.

Shots were fired between the suspect and the police and the 18 year old was killed as a result. 4 police officers including one who was off duty at the time are reported as being involved in the shooting with the gunman. Their names have not yet been released to the public pending an investigation of what went on last night during the deadly shootings.

Of the 5 shoppers who were killed, 2 were 28 year-old women, a 52 year-old man, a 24 year-old-man and a 15 year-old-girl. Their identities have not yet been released to the public pending the notification of family members. Four other victims are now in the hospital with two of them being in serious condition and the other two reported as critical condition.

The Salt Lake City mall is south of downtown and consists of 80 retail stores and dining restaurants. It is considered historical as the two stories were built in 1908 out of an old trolley barn. It held many high-end shops and is a popular attraction to those who live and visit this Utah City. Stores include antique shops, Williams and Sonoma, Children's Boutique clothing stores and restaurants such as the Hard Rock Café.