clackamas_town_center.JPG

Clackamas Town Center is under lockdown as police search for a man who is accused of shooting two people dead and injuring others.

Two people were killed and at least one other was shot at Clackamas Town Center by a man brandishing a semiautomatic rifle, according to police reports.

Emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting may have occurred near Macy’s and that a man was seen with an AR-15 rifle near the mall’s food court around 3:29 p.m. The man also may be wearing body armor.

LATEST STORY:

4:59 p.m.:

Pedro Garcia, 24, of Happy Valley, said he was walking to Panera Bread Co. at the mall to get some sandwiches, “like any other day.’’

More

He was just outside the mall when he said he heard at least six shots.

“But what caught my attention, I could smell the gunpowder,’’ Garcia said. “That’s what pretty much made me run. The gunpowder is what made me react.’’

Soon, several police cars raced up to the mall doors. An officer holding a rifle yelled at him and others to “run, run, run!’’ A staff worker at Panera Bread Co. was standing by the front door, not letting people in or out, Garcia said.

Garcia said he ran to his car, where his wife was waiting for him.

“It’s pretty crazy stuff. You never expect anything to happen like this,’’ Garcia said. “I’m just shocked that we’re trending on Twitter because of this. It’s horrible.’’

4:51 p.m.:

The Sunnyside Road off-ramp from Interstate 205 has been shut down while police SWAT teams search for a gunman who killed two people at the nearby Clackamas Town Center and left an additional half-dozen people injured.

Meanwhile, air traffic above the mall has been restricted while helicopter ambulances are preparing to land so they can ferry critical-care patients to trauma centers. A fleet of ambulances has gathered at the mall while medical teams are performing triage, evaluating the conditions of the shooting victims.

At the same time, the Town Center remains on lock-down status while SWAT teams are making systematic sweeps of the stores and corridors. The mall’s theaters have been evacuated and several TriMet buses have arrived to take witnesses away for orderly interviews.

The shooting rampage cut short the holiday atmosphere at the mall, instead spreading a pall of horror and shock.

According to preliminary reports, a man with a semiautomatic rifle opened fire near Macy’s around 3:29 p.m. The man, who may have been wearing body armor and camouflage clothing, also was seen near the mall’s food court.

John Canzano, sports columnist for The Oregonian, reported that as many as 60 shots were fired while he was shopping at the mall.

Canzano said he first noticed people “running out of the mall kind of crying and upset.” He stopped a person who said “somebody has an automatic weapon and is shooting.”

Crowds of shoppers were seen running from the mall. Others huddled together, crying, while trying to take cover.

Some early reports indicated the man was carrying an AR-15 rifle, the semiautomatic, civilian version of the fully automatic, military M-16. Both rifles fire the same high-powered cartridge.

It is not clear whether the shooting was the work of a single gunman or if others were involved.

One deputy reported that the rifle may have jammed and that a full magazine was found on the floor.

An unconfirmed report indicated that the gunman may have killed himself after the shooting.

Clackamas County sheriff’s deputies have not been able to confirm the reports. Names of the shooting victims are not yet available.

Police have not offered any motive or indicated that the gunman may have announced his intentions.

Police agencies throughout the county are answering calls to the sheriff’s office while deputies are investigating at the mall.

4:41 p.m.:

Isabel Valentine of West Linn was nearly finished with shopping when she heard shots as she was leaving The Body Shop store and heading toward the food court.

Valentine, 20, said she and three other customers were led by three employees out of the mall and into the sparking lot through a fire escape. She said it took about 20 minutes for her to reach her car, and she drove from the mall.

"The scene outside as I was leaving was just chaos," she told The Oregonian. "Police were everywhere, people were crying and screaming, and we still don't know exactly why this all happened."

4:40 p.m.:

At 4:30 p.m., an employee at Avon Bath & Beauty, a store located across from the Macy’s and Forever 21, said she was in her locked store with a customer and the customer’s 18-month-old daughter. The employee, who asked not to be named, said she heard two shots back-to-back, a pause and then at least six to eight in a row.

“I couldn’t count because they were going off so quick,” she said, adding that it was clear to her right away what was going on. She said that she began yelling at people to get out of the mall and she started closing up the gate of her store.

“People were screaming and pointing and running,” she said, “it was just like your typical American nightmare.”

The employee said a mall security guard told her that three people had been shot and that two had died. She said she was told that the shooter remained on the loose and that security said the shooter was alive and likely was in Macy’s or Forever 21.

“Police are in here with dogs, they’re heavily armed. They’re finding lots of people hiding, scattered here and there."

4:34 p.m.:

Carlos Preciado, a manager of the Clackamas Claim Jumper Restaurant near the mall, said the restaurant is still open, with a few customers eating at the restaurant. Staff are watching TV for updates. He said the restaurant, at this time, will remain open. But the restaurant's parking lot is blocked.

"I mean, this is unbelievable,'' Preciado said.

4:29 p.m.:

Police are conducting a store-by-store search of Clackamas Town Center, looking for a gunman who killed two people and shot an unknown number of additional victims.

The mall has been placed on lock-down status and all the entrances are blocked. Meanwhile, police SWAT teams are making a systematic search of the corridors and stores.

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=54f9d85cd8" >Clackmas Town Center Shooting</a>

According to preliminary reports, a man with a semiautomatic rifle opened fire near Macy’s around 3:29 p.m. The man, who may have been wearing body armor and camouflage clothing, also was seen near the mall’s food court. Law enforcement sources confirmed that two shooting victims were killed.

John Canzano, sports columnist for The Oregonian, reported that as many as 60 shots were fired while he was shopping at the mall.

Canzano said he first noticed people “running out of the mall kind of crying and upset.” He stopped a person who said “somebody has an automatic weapon and is shooting.”

As rumors flew, shoppers described potential suspects ranging from a guy in a hockey mask to youths in white masks. Police searched cars, and stores in the mall secured their entrances.

Shoppers were seen running from the mall. Others were huddled together, crying.

Medical teams are trying to assess the injuries. Initial reports indicated that four to six people may require medical attention. Lifeflight helicopter ambulances have been called to ferry critical-care patients to trauma centers.

At the same time, teams of police are evacuating the mall’s theaters.

Some early reports indicated the man was carrying an AR-15 rifle, the semiautomatic, civilian version of the fully automatic, military M-16. Both rifles fire the same high-powered cartridge.

It is not clear whether the shooting was the work of a single gunman or if others were involved.

One deputy reported that the rifle may have jammed and that a full magazine was found on the floor.

An unconfirmed report indicated that the gunman may have turned his rifle on himself.

Clackamas County sheriff’s deputies have not been able to confirm the reports. Names of the shooting victims are not yet available.

Police agencies throughout the county are answering calls to the sheriff’s office while deputies are investigating at the mall. Â

4:26 p.m.:

Law enforcement confirms two dead, according to Steve Mayes, of The Oregonian staff.

4:19 p.m.:

An employee at Activate Cellular stores just outside the Macy's store at Clackamas Town Center said that around 3:55 p.m. he saw crowds of people running out of Macy's, the mall's southern doors and out of Barnes & Noble. They were running from the center of the mall, he said, adding that he called security and was told to lock up his store and move into a back room.

4:17 p.m.:

Janice Kiser, manager at the Aries Apparel store near Macy’s was unloading stuff from her car as people began running out of the mall, said store owner Diana Marsden. She and an employee and a customer jumped into Kiser’s and drove across the street to the Target store.

Marsden said that shoppers told her employees that the shooting occured in the food court and that the shooter ran into Macy’s.

3:56 p.m.:

John Canzano, sports columnist for The Oregonian, reported that as many as 60 shots were fired while he was shopping at the mall.

Police have blocked off entrances to the mall and are searching the mall.

It is not clear whether the shooting was the work of a single gunman or if others were involved.

One deputy reported that the rifle may have jammed and that a full magazine was found on the floor.

Clackamas County sheriff’s deputies have not been able to confirm the reports. Names of the shooting victims are not yet available.

Meanwhile, the Town Center is on lock-down, with all entrances blocked.

Emergency dispatchers received reports that a shooting may have occurred near Macy’s and that a man was seen with an AR-15 rifle near the mall’s food court around 3:29 p.m. The man also may be wearing body armor.

3:50 p.m.:

Some callers reported as many as 20 shots fired.

One victim was reported receiving CPR.

Clackamas County sheriff’s deputies are responding. Deputies have not been able to confirm the reports.

Entrances to the mall have been blocked off.



-- The Oregonian

