2 killed in Florida shopping mall shooting

Washington, Jan 18: Two people were killed and another person was injured when a gunman opened fire at a mall in the US state of Florida on Saturday.

According to preliminary reports, the shooting took place around 9.20 a.m. in the food court of Melbourne Square Mall.

Police have not identified the two fatalities or the wounded person, nor have they confirmed that one of them was the shooter.

However, a witness cited by local television channel WESH 2 said that after shooting two people, the gunman had shot himself and killed.

Melbourne police said that officers quickly identified the threat and contained the situation around 10.40 a.m.

Meanwhile mall employees were progressively evacuated out the back door, and after a store-to-store search, police said, "no additional threats were located."

A brief statement from the shopping mall said it would remain closed until the authorities finished their investigation.

IANS