5 arrested after 19-year-old killed in shooting at Mall of America
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Five people are in custody -- including three juveniles -- after a 19-year-old man died in a shooting that prompted the Mall of America to go on lockdown Friday night.
Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges says around 7:50 p.m., officers heard gunshots on the first floor of Nordstrom. There were 16 officers working in the mall at the time of the shooting.
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Hodges says it appears there was a physical altercation prior to the shooting involving anywhere between five to nine individuals. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
A bystander was struck by a stray bullet in their jacket, but was not injured.
In an update Saturday afternoon, Hodges announced that five people were arrested Saturday morning at a residence on the 200 block of Shelard Parkway in St. Louis Park in connection to the shooting. The arrested include three 17-year-old boys and two 18-year-old men.
Police are still looking into the motive.
"We know the how, we know the where, we know the what and we know the who. We don't know the why," Hodges said.
All of the suspects were booked on pending charges of second-degree murder, police said. The three 17-year-olds are being held at the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center. Police say charges are possible by Tuesday.
Chief Hodges says 5 people were arrested this morning in St. Louis Park, including the suspected shooter. Adds that they’re trying to determine if another shooter was involved in last night’s incident at MOA. @WCCO pic.twitter.com/9KR2JVwaYv
— Allen Henry (@AllenWCCO) December 24, 2022
Videos posted on social media show shoppers hiding in stores. Some videos show shoppers running for cover after a loud bang is heard. One bystander's coat was grazed by a bullet.
This is the second lockdown Mall of America has gone on this year--shots fired outside the Nike store prompted a lockdown in August. On New Year's Eve of 2021, the mall went into lockdown after two people were shot on the third level of the mall.
The mall bans guns on the premises but does not have metal detectors at its entrances. It began month-long testing of the use of a "weapons detection system" at its north entrance in October.
While the mall reopened Saturday morning, the Nordstrom store remained closed.
"I really feel the family, the mom, the dad, the other relatives the mayor and I spoke to before coming out here--they're in pain, and rightfully so, for something that should not have happened," said Hodges.
Gov. Tim Walz said on Saturday morning that the violence at the mall on Friday night was "absolutely unacceptable." He said he was in touch with local officials to provide support and resources.
The violence at MOA last night is absolutely unacceptable. We are in touch with local officials to provide the support and resources they need.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) December 24, 2022
Mall of America released the following statement Friday evening: "Just before 8 p.m. this evening, Bloomington Police Department responded to a shooting contained in a tenant space. As a result, Mall of America was put into lockdown. The lockdown has since been lifted. The Mall is now closed for the evening."
WCCO does not typically identify individuals who have not been charged as adults.