US: Shooter at large after opening fire in California mall; three injured

A gunmanhas opened fire at a mall in California on Saturday (October 28). The mall in Chula Vista, California was put underlockdown as the police arrived but the lockdown was later lifted.

The shopping mall is located at 2015 Birch Road. The shooting took place at around 7 pm local time, as per local police. NBC News quoted the Chula Vista Police Department as saying that this does not appear to be a hate crime or a terrorist act based on initial inputs. Three people have been injured.

The shooter reportedly fled after opening fire at the mall and the police wereon a manhunt.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

As per some claims made on social media, the shooter was wearing a sweatshirt with 'Olympian High School' written on it.

The police have said that the shooting was a result of a gang feud and have added that there was no longera threat to people inside the mall or living in the neighbourhood.

"Shooting reportedly occurred during a dispute between 2 groups. There does not appear to be an active threat to the mall nor surrounding neighborhoods. Officers remain on the scene gathering evidence," the local police posted on X (formerly Twitter)

It has been reported that one person has been shot in the leg but there were no casualties in addition to three injured people.

This incident has taken place close on the heels of a mass shootout in Maine which resulted in the deaths of 18 people.

Also Read | Could the Maine bloodshed have been averted?

Forty-year-old Robert Card, a US Army reservist who had gun training, opened fire at Schemengees Bar and Grille and at Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley in Lewiston.

He was at large after his killing spree and police had launched a manhunt. He later committed suicide and his body was found at a recycling facility where he recently worked.

Police later said that Card suffered from mental illnesses. Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck told the media that Card had reported been hearing voices and suffered from paranoia.

Mass shootouts are common in the US and every time such a tragedy occurs, the debate over easy availability of guns resurfaces. The gun lobby in the country is powerful and has political influence. The gun-rights lobby opposes any move to tighten gun laws everytime any political move is made in such a direction.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE