TACOMA, Wash. — Tacoma police responded to a reported shootout between two groups of people near the Tacoma Mall just before 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Tacoma Police Department said two groups of people reportedly exchanged gunfire and then fled the scene. No injuries have been reported at this time.
Those inside the mall during the shooting reported stores went on lockdown.
“The salespeople told us to stop and drop everything and turned off all the music, lights and locked the doors. They heard that there was a shooter, so we got locked in the back and locked us up there and nothing for 20-30 minutes,” said Monica Gaspar, who was in the mall during the reported shooting outside.
Saturday's incident was the fourth shooting at the Tacoma Mall in less than a year.
Most recently in March, one person was shot and killed. In January, a man was shot and seriously injured in the parking lot, and in November 2021 a person was shot in the food court.
“We just have to be really safe and choosing wisely where to go out and if necessary because I feel like nowadays it’s not safe to go out,” said Gaspar.