Lockdown lifted after shooting at Mall of America

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Police are on the scene of a reported shooting inside the Mall of America.

Update 10:17 p.m. EST Dec. 23:

Bloomington police announced the lockdown was lifted at the mall. Police said officers are working with mall security and the Hennepin County Crime Lab to process the area.

Mall Of America shooting scene has been secured. BPD is working with MOA Security and Hennepin County Crime Lab to process the area. Lockdown of the MOA was recently lifted. Please continue to stay out of the area until further notice. Follow twitter for additional information.
— Bloomington Police (@BPD_MN) December 24, 2022

A representative for the mall told WCCO that the mall would remain closed for the rest of Friday evening.

Update 10:10 p.m. EST Dec. 23:

A spokesperson for the Bloomington Police Department confirmed to the Star Tribune that there was a shooting in the mall on Friday night. The spokesperson would not say where in the mall the shooting happened or offer the condition of any victims.

Original report:

A video shared on Twitter by WCCO reporter Allen Henry shows a massive police response outside the Nordstrom store at the mall.

This is the scene outside the Nordstrom at the Mall of America, which is currently in lockdown mode. We’re working to learn more. @WCCO pic.twitter.com/1eXfTfyPDe
— Allen Henry (@AllenWCCO) December 24, 2022

The Mall of America said in a tweet that it is on lockdown, saying, “Please remain in the closest secure location until the lockdown has been lifted.”

Mall of America is currently under lockdown. Please remain in the closest secure location until the lockdown has been lifted. Please stay tuned for additional updates.
— Mall of America (@mallofamerica) December 24, 2022

Update:

Mall of America remains under lockdown. Please remain in the closest secure location until the lockdown has been lifted. Additional information will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
— Mall of America (@mallofamerica) December 24, 2022

Bloomington police confirmed they were on the scene of a reported shooting and asked people to stay out of the area.

Bloomington Police and EMS are on scene of a reported shooting at the Mall Of America. MOA is on lockdown. Please stay out of the area. Information will be released via twitter as it becomes available.
— Bloomington Police (@BPD_MN) December 24, 2022

A police spokesperson would not confirm where in the mall the shooting reportedly happened or whether anyone was hurt, the Star Tribune reported.

Dan Kauppi told the Star Tribune that he was shopping in the mall when he heard an alarm.

“An alarm went off in the mall, which was unusual, and an announcement said a lockdown was happening and to go into a store and head to the back. The store I am in closed their front gates. After a few moments they said we should head to the stock room.”

The reported shooting comes just two days before Christmas and at a time when malls and stores see an increase in shoppers ahead of the holiday, according to the AP.

Check back for more on this developing story.