Roosevelt Field Mall Shooting: One Injured, Gunman In Police Custody
In yet another mall shooting incident, reports have surfaced about a shootout at the Roosevelt Field Mall located on Long Island. According to CBS News, the shooting resulted in at least one injury.
An unidentified man, who is said to be an employee at the mall, was rushed to a hospital after he was shot in the shoulder. His condition is reported to be serious but stable at this time, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano confirmed. The injured man is reportedly 67-years-old, an ABC7 News report said. Initial reports add that the shootout was the result of a robbery attempt at a Rolex store located inside the Tourneau store on the mall’s main level, next to Macy’s.
According to Acting Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter, only one shot was fired in the incident. According to Krumpter, authorities were able to apprehend the gunman. Initially, there was panic in the area after reports of an active gunman in the mall started to spread. Police officials recovered a single weapon from the gunman, who is yet to be identified.
The shooting at the Roosevelt Field Mall took place at around 1 p.m. local time. The mall was thronged with holiday shoppers at the time of the incident. Several people were left shocked at the incident and ran out in panic. Several people tweeted about the shooting and posted pictures from inside and areas surrounding the mall.
So I was just shopping at Roosevelt Field mall and there were shots fired. Almost got trampled by people running out. Fun times.
— Karl Hering (@KarelHering) December 22, 2015
Idk what happened in Roosevelt field mall. All I know is that when I see a group of ppl running away from somewhere I run away too.
— Sade. (@ohsoSade) December 22, 2015
A security guard at Roosevelt field mall just got shot about 50 feet away from me
— cullen (@cullen_lonn) December 22, 2015
Just got out of Roosevelt field mall. There’s a shooting. Most horrifying experience
— Sarah (@sarahisabellle) December 22, 2015
@News12LI Nassau County Police & Rescue Roosevelt Field Mall pic.twitter.com/wbZDOieAw4
— Michael (@MikeyNyNex) December 22, 2015
Heavily armed @NassauCountyPD cops outside Roosevelt Field mall shooting. pic.twitter.com/rvonbElLwr
— Nicole Fuller (@nicolefuller) December 22, 2015
Jessica Julig, an eyewitness, said everything happened quickly and that she was busy shopping when one of the mall employees shouted at her and asked her to stay down. She then heard people screaming, after which the whole mall began to shake – likely due to people running towards the exit. She was taken to the service exit to leave the mall.
Despite the incident, the mall did not shut down and is still open. There were some individual retailers who shut down stores for the day. A mall spokesperson also confirmed that the area has been secured and that it is now safe.
The news of the incident at the Roosevelt Field Mall comes just days after the Inquisitr reported about another shooting at a mall in Wisconsin. That incident, which police now believe to be the result of a gang war, led to one injury and no casualties.
Incidentally, this is not the first time the Roosevelt Field Mall has witnessed an incident of this nature. Back in 2013, there was a shooting near the mall involving a gunman, later identified as Sang Ho Kim, who opened fire at employees working for a company he had partnered with. The shootout led to a 25-year-old employee losing his life. Sang Ho Kim himself committed suicide after a manhunt was launched to find him. His body was later found floating in the Hudson river.
The Roosevelt Field Mall shooting comes at a time when the nation is still recovering from the horrific San Bernardino shootings that left 14 people dead.
[Image via Simon.com]
