SANTA CLARA, Calif. (KGO) — Police are investigating a shooting that injured three people at the Westfield Valley Fair Mall in South San Jose/Santa Clara Friday evening.
Police confirmed that three people were shot: one adult male, one adult female and one 16-year-old girl. They were taken to the hospital with non-life- threatening injuries. Police emphasizing that this was an isolated shooting.
San Jose police say there was a situation between two individuals outside of Macy’s on the second floor. That escalated into a shooting.
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“We can say for a matter of fact that this was not unsuspected shoppers that were targeted, this was an isolated incident with two individuals, and unfortunately two others were injured. And this shouldn’t stop people from enjoying their holiday,” says Sgt. Jorge Garibay, with the San Jose Police Department.
Police believe there is only one suspect involved. A search for the suspect is underway.
The mall was put on lockdown. Hundreds of people sheltering in place – many in the closest store they could get into.
“Within a few minutes, the store employees started to close the gates. And lock the sliding doors,” says Guppy, who says he sheltered-in-place for about 20 minutes.
“There was screaming initially. Initially, you heard a lot of people screaming. Running. There was a lot of panic. And then it was just silence,” says Deena Ribeiro, also a San Jose resident.
Once the lockdown was lifted, police went store to store to let people out.
“It was the SWAT team… they were controlling it, (saying), ‘OK, you can come out,'” says Paris Avilez, an Aesop employee.
“We heard loud bang sounds. We didn’t think much of it. We thought something fell. And then we heard it continuously, and then glass shattered. So, we ducked down,” explains one Valley Fair shopper who had to shelter-in-place in Macy’s.
Thousands of shoppers who were at the mall for Black Friday, were stampeding to get out, or find shelter after hearing gunshots.
“We heard what sounded like to me, fireworks. In your brain you want it to be fireworks. We heard people screaming and running. We knew instantly it was gunshots. It was a giant stampede of people running by,” explains Bill Guppy, a San Jose resident.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan addressed the shooting on X.
“San Jose – this is not the news I wanted to share with you this holiday weekend. My prayers are with these victims and I know our officers are doing everything they can to find the person responsible and hold them accountable. Currently, there is no ongoing threat to the community but please avoid the area. We’ll keep you posted as we have more info,” Mayor Mahan said.
No suspects have been caught.
The mall, with 2.2 million square feet of retail space and more than 200 shops, is owned by Paris-based Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE. It is partially located in San Jose and partly in Santa Clara.
The mall announced it will reopen at noon on Saturday. For anyone who left their cars overnight can be picked up at their earliest convenience.
Any belongings left Friday night can be picked up at a collection site at the mall’s third floor across from security dispatch starting at noon.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
Stay with ABC7 News for the latest details on this developing story.
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