Three people were killed and two injured in a man fired with a rifle at a mall food court in Indiana.
Police say the man entered the Greenwood Park mall and opened fire, seriously injuring three people and eventually killing himself, a 22-year-old armed man.
One of the injured was a 12-year-old girl who suffered minor injuries, the Indianapolis Star has reported.
Indiana There are somewhat more lax gun laws among US states, and just this month eliminated the need for a permit for those wishing to carry a handgun—even if it’s concealed.
This latest shooting means that another community will be shaken by the tragedy, following similar attacks. Schools in Uvalde, Texas and on one Independence Day Parade in Chicago,
“We are deeply hurt by another incident like this in our country,” said Indianapolis Assistant Police Chief Chris Bailey.
Meanwhile, Greenwood Police Department Chief Jim Iason said: “The real hero of the day is the citizen who was legally carrying a firearm into that food court and was able to stop the shooter as soon as he started. “
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the three people who were shot dead in Indiana on Sunday include 136 people killed in gun violence nationwide in the past 72 hours.
After sounding the alarm, officials went to the mall around 6 p.m. local time, when it closed.
Officers are searching the mall for any other victims, but it is believed the shooting was rooted in a food court.
US Senator Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana, tweeted: “Horrible news tonight in my home county. Prayers for the victims of a shooting at Greenwood Park Mall.
“Thanks to our law enforcement officers who responded.”
The latest shootings in America follows the tragedies in Chicago and Uvalde, Texas that have grabbed headlines, as well as several others that have gone relatively unreported.
Read more: Nearly 400 officers in Texas school shooting ‘failed to make victims’ safety their priority’
ATF officials reached the spot. photo: Associated Press
US Senate last month A rare bipartisan package of gun safety legislation passedAfter decades of failure to pass legislation on firearms.
Greenwood is a south suburb of Indianapolis with a population of approximately 60,000.
Mayor Mark Myers called for “prayers for the victims and our first responders”.
“This tragedy lies at the core of our community,” he said in a statement.
