A shooting at a suburban Detroit shopping mall on Friday left two people dead and a third injured, according to Dearborn police. The incident occurred at the Fairlane Town Center.
Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin stated that the altercation was not random, involving two groups who knew each other. A fight began after the groups encountered each other at the mall and escalated to gunfire. Members of both groups were armed with handguns.
One victim died at the scene within the mall, while the other succumbed to their injuries at a nearby hospital. Information regarding the third injured individual has not been released.
The shooting prompted panic among mall patrons, with some attempting to flee the area. One person was struck by a vehicle outside the mall while trying to escape, Shahin confirmed.
The mall was evacuated following the shooting and is expected to remain closed while the investigation continues. Police are questioning individuals believed to be connected to the incident, but no arrests have been made.
Michigan State Police are assisting in the investigation.
Fairlane Town Center is a mall with over 125 stores and restaurants located in Dearborn, a city of more than 100,000 residents approximately nine miles west of Detroit.