At least one individual died after an armed suspect opened fire inside a crowded shop filled with holiday shoppers, triggering a major search operation by a SWAT team.
Gunfire erupted within the Spirit Halloween store as customers shopped for final-stage costumes at the Solano Town Center mall located in Fairfield, California.
Authorities declared one victim dead at the location, while emergency personnel transported six additional individuals to the hospital, where three remain in critical condition.
Numerous police cruisers gathered outside the establishment, which authorities sealed off to conduct a full investigation.
Law enforcement officials withheld a description of the alleged gunman and declined to verify whether multiple suspects were involved.
Investigators have not yet disclosed a motive for the attack.
Police stated in an official release, “This is still a very active crime scene.”
The statement added, “Detectives are speaking with witnesses and diligently working to identify the suspect responsible for this horrific shooting.”
Officials did not immediately disclose the ages or names of those affected.
The temporary retail space was packed with patrons when the gunfire began, causing frightened shoppers to run for their safety.
One bystander reported that his spouse described a scene of absolute terror.
He told KCRA, “She just told me she heard some shots and the people running, yelling and crying already.”
According to the man, his wife heard seven gunshots before individuals escaped toward the parking lot.
The pop-up retail space occupied a former Best Buy location within the shopping complex, which houses approximately 130 stores.
Another witness informed the Vacaville Reporter, “I was in Chipotle [when] a girl working in Spirit ran in and said they came in and just started shooting.”
Special Weapons and Tactics teams searched the shopping center to determine if any gunmen remained concealed inside.
One sweep took place inside a movie theater where roughly twelve patrons were watching the film Halloween.
Witness Caitlin Fry stated to CBS Sacramento, “Towards the end of the film a police officer in full SWAT gear came storming in with a very large Maglite and asked us if anyone came in that had a gun.”
Audience members noted that the tense atmosphere inside the auditorium brought to mind the Aurora cinema shooting that resulted in 12 fatalities.
Caitlin’s partner, Marty McCoy, stated, “I was afraid after (the SWAT officer) came in, I thought about Dark Knight in Colorado – the shooting that happened there years ago.”
He continued, “I told her I don’t know what’s going to happen when we walk out of here, just remember ‘run, hide, fight’ and I love you just in case.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation participated alongside multiple organizations dispatched to the retail center to support the inquiry.
The bureau stated, “FBI Sacramento is aware of the shooting incident in Fairfield, California, and we are deploying our Evidence Response Team to assist the Fairfield Police Department.”
