By James Queally, Ted Sherman and Jason Grant / The Star-Ledger

PARAMUS — Hours after a volley of shots were fired in Garden State Plaza, trapping customers and store workers for hours as police searched for the gunman, the suspect was found dead inside a construction zone within the mall, authorities said this morning.

There was no indication when he died, but officials said it appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the head from a rifle. He was found shot to death at about 3:20 a.m., wearing a black motorcycle helmet and jeans. The body was found in a non-retail area not typically accessed by the public, where construction materials were being stored, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said.

Molinelli identified the suspect as Richard Shoop, 20, of Teaneck, who he called a known drug abuser who may have had a criminal record and was unemployed. A house in Teaneck believed to be

his home was raided overnight by police and the FBI. But cell phone records suggested the suspect never left the mall.

According to Molinelli, Shoop had gone to the mall with the intention of dying, either through suicide or being shot by police. He said they did not believe Shoop had any intention to hurt anyone else, noting that several witnesses said he had the opportunity to kill them, but that he never raised his rifle against them.

"The main motive for what he did tonight was suicide, whether self-inflicted or suicide-by-cop," he said.

Molinelli said the gunman fired at least six rounds in the mall. He identified the weapon as a .22-caliber assault-style rifle, legally owned by Shoop's brother, and that Shoop had taken it without permission. No one other than Shoop was injured.

According to the prosecutor, it was family members who first alerted law enforcement late last evening of their suspicions that Shoop might be involved, after hearing initial news reports of the incident.

This morning Molinelli told News 12 New Jersey that there was "an issue of domestic violence" involving Shoop in recent months. Molinelli also told the cable station that Shoop was known to several law enforcement agencies in the area. "He was known as someone that sold drugs, used drugs."

The mall, a two-story complex that houses more than 300 stores and retailers, is situated near the intersection Routes 4 and 17 in Bergen County, about 15 miles west of Manhattan.

Throughout the night, dozens of people who were trapped in the mall since the start of the shooting could be seen being escorted out in small groups, as police went store-by-store, looking for the suspect and anyone hiding.

Police have identified Richard R. Shoop, 20, of Teaneck, as the suspect in the Paramus mall shooting. He apparently shot himself inside the mall early Tuesday morning, according to authorities.

"It took a long time to clear these stores. You've got to go foot-by-foot, yard-by-yard," said Molinelli.

Among those trapped was Maria Rocha, 39, who had been shopping for a new dress when she heard the gunfire shortly after 9 pm.

“I heard the gunshot and I looked up and saw the gunman. I could see him walking sort of in front of me. He was in full body gear in black. It might have been a helmet or something covering his face. You could not see his face at all. I just turned around and ran as fast as I could,” she said.

She ran into a mall restaurant and hid in the stockroom in the back with other employees, keeping her head down until police came in after midnight.

“The police came to the door, announced themselves and we kind of opened the door slowly,” she said. “We saw it was them and we came out with our hands up.”

The mall will be closed today, Garden State Plaza officials said.