: OMAHA (AP) — Police locked down a busy Omaha mall after at least one person was shot Wednesday afternoon.
Omaha television station KMTV, citing police radio reports, said two people are dead and up to five people wounded.
Police representatives were not yet commenting publicly and have yet to confirm any injuries or arrests.
Employees and shoppers at Von Maur said they huddled together inside the store and barricaded themselves in dressing rooms and other offices for about half an hour.
Kevin Kleine, 29, of Omaha, a shopper, was there with her 4-year-old daughter. She said she hid in a dressing room with four other shoppers and an employee.
"My knees rocked. I didn't know what to do, so I just ran with everybody else," Kleine said.
A witness, Todd Trimpe, told Omaha television station KETV that he saw police apprehend a man who was hiding under a bus stop bench outside the Westroads Mall in west Omaha. Trimpe said the man was dressed in camouflage and "stuck out like a sore thumb."
Two people were seen being removed on stretchers, and rescue workers were taking more stretchers inside the building. KETV reported that an elderly man was shot inside the Von Maur store.
Keith Fidler, a Von Maur employee, said he heard a burst of five to six shots followed by 15 to 20 shots. Fidler said he huddled in the corner of the men's clothing department without about a dozen other employees until police yelled to get out of the store.
Fidler said he did not see the shooting, but saw a person lying still by the elevator as he was leaving the store.
Police were letting some people leave the mall, but no one was allowed to enter. Shoppers and employees stood outside the west Omaha mall.
A woman who answered the phone at the Old Navy store said 20 to 30 customers were huddled with employees in a back storeroom.
"All we know was people were running and screaming down the hallway by Von Maur saying there was a shooting, and then they locked us down," said the woman, who said her name was Heidi.
President Bush was in town for a fundraiser in Omaha but left about 1 p.m., before the shooting around 2 p.m.
A witness, Shawn Vidlak, said he heard four or five rapid shots "like a nail gun." At first he thought it was noise from construction work going on at the mall.
"People started screaming about gunshots," Vidlak said. "I grabbed my wife and kids we got out of there as fast as we could."
Jennifer Kramer was on an escalator with a friend at Von Maur when they heard what they thought was gunfire. They hid in a coat rack in the men's department.
Shopper Chol Khor said he was shopping inside JC Penney when the shooting occurred.
"I heard something like a balloon pop," he said. "Then two women came running into the store and said there had been a shooting."
Khor said he and the women ran out of the mall.
A Penny's worker, Sharon Wilkins, said she didn't hear anything. She said a couple customers heard the shots.
"They told us to go away from the doors and into the fitting rooms. Then they told us to leave."
Wilkins left without her coat. A nearby office building let her and other Penney's employees inside to stay warm.
Belene Esaw-Kagbara, 31, of Omaha, a Von Maur employee, said "it was general panic."
"Everybody was scared, and we didn't know what was going on. We didn't know what to do," she said.
"I was praying that God protect us."
***, my prayers go out to the victims of the families that were cought up in that mess. I live in south florida so news like this is not a shock to me because stuff like this happens all the time in my area. And sad to say that there is worst but thats just the reality of it. This world is coming to a mess but the truth of matter is we are living in our last days. Pick up the bible and start reading and u will see everything that is said is happening today. I feel stupid for asking this but what state was this in? I never heard of Omaha. Would like to know.
That is really sad, I'm from Omaha NEBRASKA, but I no longer live there, and it is sad to say, but it does happen everyday somewhere. It ALWAYS hits close to home, to SOMEBODY, each and every time. Get right people, tomorrow is not promised. There may never be another chance to get it together. The killer was 19 and he killed himself, left a note saying he was going out in style. 9 people are dead. BTW, what is the significance of the 1st, 2nd...posts?
I'm from Omaha and its been a bad day here. rest in peace to those that lost their lives on an act of such cruelty. The thing that makes me the most mad though is how all the people around here are saying things like, "Oh my God, what if I was there" and "I was thinking about going to the mall today"... Guess what, you weren't though. These people need to stop putting the focus on themselves and think about those at actually lost their lives
My little sister was in the mall and my husband worked with this young man. Omaha has close to 500,000 people and the city is really shaken up. I watched everything on the news from the time it was breaking news until now---Its a sad state of affairs for all involved and its too bad this young man was not shown love by those close to him....I think that things really could have been prevented. My little sister was so shaken up because she was on her way towards the gunman when people started running and she ran back in her store where they immediately closed the gate and put everyone on lockdown. I find it very disturbing as to why they kept reporting he was a black male when he wasnt...Bottom line is though that regardless of age, race, or religion, 9 families are hurting and grieving for their loved ones ***. Its just sad and horribly tragic for something to happen down the street from your home---I was just there 2 days ago! Sad, sad, sad
To anyone who reads this message, "I Love All Ya'll"! No matter your ethnic backgrnd, religion, none of that matters. We need to stop killing and start loving one another. Just remember yo, no matter what you r going thru, how bad your day may seem, just pray that God gives you another day to live cause as long as you have him, you will always prosper. REAL TALK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>> I was at westroads mall in omaha Robert Hawkins goes to the same school i go too it was horriable thank god i made it out safely <<
Really, now, does he? Hmm, I guess the fact that he is a high-school DROP-OUT and got his GED instead means nothing to your delusional mind. I didn't know 20-year-olds were in high-school. ::rolling my eyes::
Attention ***. Looks like you *need* to be in school 24/7, based on your lack of writing skills. Keep your a$$ firmly planted on the chair. In the front row.
YusefX wrote: >> kid was probrably on ritalin or something like the VTECH ***, keep kids away from all that stuff.<<
Ignorant, much?
>> the kid was on anti depressents, I knew it.<<
Sure you did. That is why this article says >> Hawkins was not on any medication for mental illness <<
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Please ask for a clue for Christmas or whatever the hell you celebrate.
OK... Now they r *** in the malls.. I'M NERVOUS!!!!! Good God... we r not safe anywhere.... Imagine shopping at the mall w/ ur family and u hear gunshots... IN A F@*KIN MALL.. JEEZZZ... I don't know what this world is coming to.... I hope it gets better... Nah... it won't.... We r in the LAST days.. so we as a people should jus enjoy our life and live each day as if it were ur last!!! Be good and treat people the way u would want to be treated..Remember God is watchin....Imagine those people that got killed.. All they were doing was shopping for the holidays.. Never ONCE dis they imagine that yesterday would be there last day on this earth.. I pray for their families....
