A shooting altercation between two groups of young people at Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn, Michigan, left two people dead and a third injured on Friday, according to police.
Incident Details
Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin said the shooting sent mall patrons scrambling, including a person who was hit by a vehicle outside the mall while attempting to flee. The altercation was not a random act; the two groups knew each other and after they came into contact at the mall, a fight started that escalated into gunfire. Members of both groups had handguns, Shahin said.
Victims and Investigation
One victim died inside Fairlane Town Center and the other died at a nearby hospital. Details on the third person who was shot were not released. Police were questioning people believed to be linked to the fight, but no one was immediately taken into custody. The mall was evacuated and police planned to keep it closed while they investigated.
Community Response
A video posted to social media appeared to show people running from the shopping center after gunshots could be heard. Fairlane Town Center has more than 125 stores and restaurants, according to its website. Dearborn is a suburb of Detroit with a population of more than 100,000 people, about 9 miles (15 kilometers) west of Detroit. Michigan State Police Specialist Lt. Tyhrann Howard said the agency was assisting with the investigation and referred questions to the Dearborn police. A person who answered the phone at the telephone number for mall security declined comment.
