News & Politics - Man opens fire at Omaha mall, killing 8

mcdreamylover · 12-05-2007, 04:07 PM

From Man opens fire at Omaha mall, killing 8 - Yahoo! News

Quote:

Man opens fire at Omaha mall, killing 8 By OSKAR GARCIA, Associated Press Writer
12 minutes ago

OMAHA, Neb. - A man with a rifle opened fire at a busy department store Wednesday, killing eight people before taking his own life, in an attack that made holiday shoppers run screaming through a mall and barricade themselves in dressing rooms. Five more people were wounded, two critically.

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Witnesses said the gunman fired down on shoppers from a third-floor balcony of the Von Maur store.

The gunman was found dead on the third floor with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his victims were discovered on the second and third floors, police said.

"My knees rocked. I didn't know what to do, so I just ran with everybody else," said Kevin Kleine, 29, who was shopping with her 4-year-old daughter at the Westroads Mall, in a prosperous neighborhood on the city's west side. She said she hid in a dressing room with four other shoppers and an employee.

Keith Fidler, a Von Maur employee, said he heard a burst of five to six shots followed by 15 to 20 more rounds. Fidler said he huddled in the corner of the men's clothing department with about a dozen other employees until police yelled to get out of the store.

Sgt. Teresa Negron said the gunman killed eight people, then apparently killed himself. His name was not immediately released, and authorities gave no motive for the attack and did not know whether he said anything during the rampage.

Police received a 911 call from someone inside the mall, and shots could be heard in the background, Negron said. By the time officers arrived six minutes later, the shooting was over, she said.

A witness, Shawn Vidlak, said he heard four or five rapid shots "like a nail gun." At first he thought it was noise from construction work going on at the mall.

"People started screaming about gunshots," Vidlak said. "I grabbed my wife and kids we got out of there as fast as we could."

Shortly after the shooting, which came three weeks before Christmas, a group of shoppers came out of the building with their hands raised. Some were still holding shopping bags.

President Bush was in town Wednesday for a fundraiser in Omaha, but left about an hour before the shooting.

The sprawling, three-level mall has more than 135 stores and restaurants, according to the Web site for General Growth Properties, the manager of the mall. It gets 14.5 million visitors every year, according to the Web site.

SoLongSelf · 12-05-2007, 04:43 PM

I lived in Omaha until December of last year. Always went to Westroads Mall cause it was the better mall in the city. Just got off the phone with my best friend who lives there. She was at work today so she's fine but her brother was at the mall today. He said he heard gun shots and everyone around him took cover. They waited unil swat told them to leave. He was only 2 stores down. Luckily he's ok too. Still waiting to hear from a few more friends.

elisheva · 12-05-2007, 11:19 PM

That is so scary.

-Alina- · 12-06-2007, 03:19 AM

Becca I really hope your friends are all right

It's really sad hearing it again. And what is more sad is this kind of incident not the first, nor the last

**sum1** · 12-07-2007, 01:37 AM

Wtf is it with people?

migamoo · 12-07-2007, 10:08 AM

I heard about this the other day on the news. What brings a person to do such a thing?

**sum1** · 12-09-2007, 03:48 PM

This sort of thing is becoming a regular bloody fad, which is seriously worrying. It's looking like this is the new in thing for teenage boys to do when they feel disaffected.

Bella Grint · 12-11-2007, 11:54 PM

this is horrible

gargali · 12-12-2007, 07:09 AM

Some people are really mad...

That sucks


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