"Somebody was waiting for them": Police give update on West Edmonton Mall shooting that injured three
Edmonton Police Service (EPS) has provided an update on a shooting at West Edmonton Mall that left three people seriously injured Monday evening.
EPS Acting Chief Darren Derko provided an update to the public Tuesday morning on the incident and to reassure citizens that Edmonton remains a safe city.
At around 7:40 pm, police responded to reports of a shooting at the mall and, upon arrival, found three males with gunshot wounds. All three were taken to hospital by paramedics with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Derko says that early evidence shows four people pulled into the parking lot and went into the mall. When they came back 40 minutes later, a white SUV that had been sitting in the parking lot pulled up, which is when “gunfire was exchanged.”
“It looks like somebody was waiting for them,” Derko said.
The white SUV immediately fled the scene. Two injured people were located outside of the mall after collapsing from their injuries, while the third injured person was located inside the mall. The fourth person, who was uninjured, also ran inside.
A handgun was recovered from inside the mall, and it’s not known who the groups are or their motivations.
The fourth male has not been located, nor have the occupants of the white SUV, Derko says. However, police believe they have located the vehicle involved in the shooting.
Police believe that this was a targeted incident and that both parties of the shooting were known to each other. Derko says the victims were shot in the arms, side of the stomach, and leg, “so serious, but not life-threatening.”
As a result of the shooting, Canada’s largest mall went into lockdown for more than two hours Monday evening.
Videos posted to social media showed the mall in lockdown, with sirens blaring and the intercom of the mall telling customers, “Attention, West Edmonton Mall is in lockdown. Those that are not in a secure location should seek shelter immediately.”
West Edmonton Mall goes on lock down. #Yeg #Wem #Mall #MenDown pic.twitter.com/OHXyxWGIMQ
— Christopher Campbell (@780Campbell) August 22, 2023
Another video appeared to show someone being taken away on a stretcher, near the entrance to Wild West Shooting Centre in the mall, with another showing the massive police presence outside the building.
Edmonton Police respond to reports of multiple shootings @ the West Edmonton Mall, currently in a lockdown. Police urge public to stay away from the Mall in light of their safety. #Yeg #Yegcc #yegtraffic pic.twitter.com/RMFHnqO2EE
— Siddi Chudal (@s_chudal) August 22, 2023
#BreakingNews : Police are responding to shooting at West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta. Mall on lockdown and cops ask the public to avoid the area. #westedmontonmallshooting pic.twitter.com/ZAWR5uIyLd
— That Guy Shane (@ProfanityNewz) August 22, 2023
Derko wanted to assure the public that Edmonton remains a safe city.
“We’re seeing more violence but incidents like this are still rare.”
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