Vancouver Mall Shooting: A Night of Halloween Horror for Families in the Food Court

The Vancouver Police Department stated that they responded to reports of a shooting at the mall on NE Vancouver Mall Drive around 7:30 p.m.

A shooting at Vancouver Mall caused panic among families celebrating Halloween, with authorities confirming that the suspect is still at large and may be armed.

The Vancouver Fire Department reported that one person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting at Vancouver Mall on October 31, 2024. According to police spokeswoman Kim Kapp, the injured individuals were transported to a nearby hospital.

Despite the suspect still being at large, Kapp reassured the public during a press conference at 9:40 p.m. that there was no ongoing threat within the mall. Police facilitated the safe exit of those sheltering inside and noted that they received reports of the shooting and responded around 7:30 p.m.

In their statement, the Vancouver police reported that witnesses indicated a person in the food court shot another individual and fired additional rounds that hit two others. Upon arrival, officers found one person deceased and two others injured, who were then taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment.

A witness recounted the chaotic scene in the mall during the shooting, emphasizing the distressing atmosphere due to the presence of many children who were there to celebrate Halloween by trick-or-treating. The shopping center was hosting a trick-or-treating event for all ages, which was planned from 5 to 8 p.m.

The witness expressed fear for the children present, describing the experience as “terrifying” and the most frightening thing they had ever witnessed. They noted how quickly the situation unfolded, stating, “It happened so fast. There’s a lot of kids here tonight. That was my first thought.”

The witness recounted hearing children’s cries throughout the mall and recalled a particularly emotional moment when she heard an eight-year-old girl saying, “I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die.” Choosing to remain anonymous, the witness felt fortunate to have escaped the mall unharmed. Kapp also indicated that she believes no children were injured in the incident.

Witness Gregory Iiams expressed concern for his wife and children while at Round1, having just finished trick-or-treating with his 4-year-old daughter. As they were playing, a wave of panic engulfed the area when people began to rush out of the venue.

Instinctively, Iiams shielded his children by positioning them behind him as he tried to comprehend the chaos around him. While following the fleeing crowd, he overheard someone mention the presence of an active shooter.

Another witness, Natalya Brown, who was working in the mall about 30 minutes before closing time, described the incident, saying, “We were starting to wrap up when we heard a loud sound. I knew it was gunfire — seven to eight rounds. People started running.”

Brown recalled that she and her colleagues swiftly pulled shoppers into their store, locking and barricading the gates shortly after 7:30 p.m. They stayed confined inside until around 9 p.m., when police were finally able to make contact and assess the situation.

Eighteen-year-old Ryan Tomlin from Vancouver was still wearing his bowling shoes in the parking lot outside Macy’s shortly after 8 p.m., having just finished bowling with friends at Round1 when the chaos began. He recalled, “I threw the first ball and we heard ‘Shooter, shooter! Active shooter!’” Initially, he and his friends, who were all 18 and 19 years old, doubted the seriousness of the situation until they stepped outside near the west end of the mall and saw three police cars.

Initially, employees and shoppers inside the mall were instructed to shelter in place for their safety. Subsequently, members of the Lower Columbia SWAT Team and other law enforcement agencies worked to clear the Vancouver Mall, ensuring that all occupants were safely evacuated. Meanwhile, outside the mall, shoppers were reunited with their loved ones at a designated reunification area established near Hobby Lobby for those separated during the incident.

The investigation into the shooting is being led by the Vancouver Police’s Major Crimes Unit. Authorities have not yet determined whether the incident was a targeted attack or a random act of violence. Law enforcement officials are currently reviewing surveillance footage as part of the investigation to help identify the suspect and have encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact the Vancouver Police Department.