Updated 9:59 a.m.
Two people were killed in a shooting at Arden Fair Mall that evacuated the area during Black Friday shopping.
The shooting occurred just after 6 p.m. Friday inside of the mall, according to Sacramento Police spokesperson Officer Karl Chan. One victim, a 19-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene. The second, a 17-year-old boy, was transported to a local hospital but died hours later.
SPD officers are on scene of a shooting that occurred at Arden Fair Mall. Two shooting victims have been located and the suspect has fled the area. There is no active threat at this time. Police will remain in the area as the investigation continues.
— Sacramento Police (@SacPolice) November 28, 2020
As of Saturday morning police say they are still investigating a possible motive for the shooting, but say it was an isolated incident. Police offered a limited description of the shooter, saying in a press release only "an African American male in his 20’s."
“We know that there were a lot of people here,” Chan told reporters Friday evening. “We had officers that were working here as well, as security and were able to help facilitate an evacuation of the mall.”
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg responded on Twitter saying while he was waiting for more details from police, he is "deeply concerned" by recent shootings in the city.
"We are deeply concerned by the increase in gun violence in Sacramento and other cities during the pandemic, and have supported increasing our efforts to reach young people at risk," Steinberg wrote. "A gun is never the answer."
We are awaiting more details on tonight’s incident from @SacPolice. We are deeply concerned by the increase in gun violence in Sacramento and other cities during the pandemic, and have supported increasing our efforts to reach young people at risk. A gun is never the answer.
— @mayor_Steinberg (@Mayor_Steinberg) November 28, 2020
The mall was expected to close at 10 p.m., but was shut down early because of the shooting, according to Arden Fair spokesperson Nathan Spradlin. According to the Arden Fair website, the mall will reopen Saturday at 10 a.m.
Spradlin added that the mall is working with Sacramento police on the shooting investigation.
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