Gunman Opens Fire At Christmas Shoppers Near Portland, Killing 2

[News_Editor]

Gunman opens fire at Christmas shoppers near Portland, killing 2 < br />

2012-12-12 19:36:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

HAPPY VALLEY, OREGON (BNO NEWS) -- A masked gunman wearing camouflage and a bulletproof vest opened fire Tuesday at scores of Christmas shoppers at a mall near Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon, killing two people and injuring a third before killing himself, police said.

The rampage began at around 3:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday when a man, wearing a white hockey mask, black clothing, and a bullet proof vest, entered the Clackamas Town Center mall near Portland and opened fire with a black, semi-automatic rifle as terrified Christmas shoppers ran for safety or ducked for cover.

Sergeant Adam Phillips, a spokesman for the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, said two unidentified victims were found deceased inside the mall. The suspected gunman, who has been identified by authorities but whose name has not yet been released, was also found deceased as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"The Clackamas County Sheriff's is able to confirm that the suspect in the active shooter incident at Clackamas Town Center is deceased. At this point in the investigation, it appears that the suspect acted alone inside the mall," Phillips said at a news conference. "The suspect was an adult male."

Brandon Paxton, a spokesman for Clackamas Fire District 1, said a third victim, a female, was injured and transported to a local trauma center in an unknown condition. He said Clackamas Fire went to a second alarm medical assignment during the shootings and dispatched a total of 22 fire units along with several American Medical Response (AMR) Ambulances to the scene.

Hundreds of holiday shoppers and store employees were inside the mall when the shootings erupted, and many remained locked inside stores' backrooms for hours as SWAT teams worked to secure the area. The Clackamas Town Center is one of the biggest and busiest malls in the region with 185 stores and a movie theater.

"We have already heard several descriptions by friends and neighbors who were at the mall, and it is clear that this random act could have easily happened to people we know," Happy Valley Mayor Lori DeRemer said. "Happy Valley and Clackamas County continue to work in partnership to provide safety and livability to our citizens and our adjoining neighbors. We are proud of the rapid and professional response of our law enforcement, and our hearts and prayers are with those who lost loved ones as victims."

The motive behind the rampage was not immediately known, but Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber directed State Police to make any and all necessary resources available to local law enforcement. "My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. I appreciate the work of the first responders and their quick reaction to this tragic shooting," he said in a statement.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-12-12

[JemJem]

There hasn't been a single reply to this so far (okay, now there is one). That is mainly because sadly, we have gotten used to hearing about/reading such incidents in the US

[Bwanatickey]

Just watched a documentry " I Survived" students recalling be shot by Seung Hui Cho at Virginia tech 2007. He killed 32

Killers need to aim for that bench mark to get noticed. This shopping mall shooting story is small fry,it is not going to be made into a book or documentry. If a fame seeking Billy the Kid wild west shooter is going to make a name,by shooting one victum. That victum must have an easily identifiable reconised brand status. ie John Lennon,Ronald Reagon,Bin Laden,Bambi.

[uptheos]

"opened fire with a black, semi-automatic rifle"

Sound familiar?

[endure]

"opened fire with a black, semi-automatic rifle"

Sound familiar?

Not only does it sound familiar it will continue to sound familiar for slaughters to come...

[folium]

"opened fire with a black, semi-automatic rifle"

Sound familiar?

Not only does it sound familiar it will continue to sound familiar for slaughters to come...

Another sad &lt;deleted&gt;&gt; with access to hardware he shouldn't be able to possess, who had to murder a few innocent people before he did the decent thing.

Another AR-15, seems like the weapon of choice for those keen to maintain "a well regulated militia", but of course "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed", notwithstanding how many innocent people are murdered by such upholders of the Constitution.

[Mosha]

Are there actually any militia groups in the USA?

[jpinx]

RIP the victims and heartfelt condolences to the families.

Just another day in good ol' USA.........

[folium]

What's really sad about this incident is that it happened a week ago and no one (apart from JemJem) really noticed/cared/responded until we had the slaughter in Newtown. Speaks volumes re all of us and how we think/react.

[jpinx]

Just watched a documentry " I Survived" students recalling be shot by Seung Hui Cho at Virginia tech 2007. He killed 32

Killers need to aim for that bench mark to get noticed. This shopping mall shooting story is small fry,it is not going to be made into a book or documentry. If a fame seeking Billy the Kid wild west shooter is going to make a name,by shooting one victum. That victum must have an easily identifiable reconised brand status. ie John Lennon,Ronald Reagon,Bin Laden,Bambi.

Hasn't even been reported in BBC website yet.

Edit - I mean the incident - not the documentary...

Edited December 19, 2012 by jpinx

[folium]

Just watched a documentry " I Survived" students recalling be shot by Seung Hui Cho at Virginia tech 2007. He killed 32

Killers need to aim for that bench mark to get noticed. This shopping mall shooting story is small fry,it is not going to be made into a book or documentry. If a fame seeking Billy the Kid wild west shooter is going to make a name,by shooting one victum. That victum must have an easily identifiable reconised brand status. ie John Lennon,Ronald Reagon,Bin Laden,Bambi.

Hasn't even been reported in BBC website yet.

Originally shown June 2008 on the Biography Channel in the USA.

[simple1]

Are there actually any militia groups in the USA?

Yes there are, but with limited membership populated by weirdos, see http://wramsite.com/ & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militia_movement

[folium]

Are there actually any militia groups in the USA?

Yes there are, but with limited membership populated by weirdos, see http://wramsite.com/ & http://en.wikipedia....ilitia_movement

Mercifully they have always been of limited membership and populated by weirdos, check out the "Hutaree" in Michigan for an inspiring group of Constitution defenders.

[DocN]

Unfortunately it is getting so normal to hear about this (especially from the good ol' US of A) that "2 victims" doesn't even make you cringe anymore. Sadly, the reaction is more like "Only two?" It is pretty sad...and R.I.P. the victims in this case!

[mania]

My daughter works at the mall & was there working during the shooting so I heard about it

minutes after it happened.

She said a woman ran into their shop who had just passed the gunman on the way in.

Edited December 19, 2012 by mania