A gunman opened fire Wednesday night at a shopping center in Glendale, Ariz., barely two weeks after it reopened from coronavirus lockdown. At least three people were injured.
One of the victims is in critical condition, according to Glendale police, while the other two are expected to recover.
Police responded to reports of gunfire around 7:30 p.m. MT at the Westgate Entertainment District, just outside the Arizona Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium and about 15 minutes from Phoenix.
Spokeswoman Tiffany Ngalula said during a press conference Wednesday night that officers arrived at the scene and “challenged” the suspect, who they were able to take safely into custody.
The alleged gunman has not been publicly identified by police.
Ngalula said that police were aware of social media video circulating that purportedly showed the gunman, but could not confirm that the Snapchat video was of the suspect.
Anyone who had video was asked to turn it over to Silent Witness or the Glendale Police Department.
State Sen. Martin Quezada tweeted that he was witnessing the shooting live and saw a person “with an AR-15 shoot up Westgate.”
“I saw 2 victims with my own eyes. Not sure how many others,” Quezada tweeted. “I saw the shooter. Being told not to say anything else about details ’til I speak to police. I’m ok. Lots of shaken up people.”
Gov. Doug Ducey extended “hearts and prayers” to “the individuals and families impacted tonight, as well as the first responders and police officers who are on the scene.”
“The state is here to continue to offer its full support to the victims and to the community,” he said in a statement online.
Mark Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate and husband of former congresswoman Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), who was shot outside Tucson in 2011, also reached out with sympathy.
“There is no more terrifying time than right now for everyone who is wondering if their loved ones who were at Westgate are safe, or if they are among those who were hurt,” he tweeted. “(Gabby) and I have been through this, and so have far too many other Americans. We’re with you.”
Outdoor shopping malls, including Westgate, reopened on May 8 from the coronavirus lockdown, less than two weeks ago.
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