Two people were killed and another was injured after a dispute between two groups erupted into gunfire inside a busy Michigan shopping mall, sending terrified shoppers running for safety.
The shooting unfolded at approximately 1:25 p.m. on Friday, July 3, inside Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn, a Detroit suburb.
Dearborn police initially described the scene as an active investigation and urged residents and visitors to stay away while officers secured the mall.
Investigators later confirmed that three people had been shot. One victim died inside the shopping center, while another was pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital. A third person was hospitalized with injuries that have not been publicly detailed.
Police said the shooting was not a random attack.
According to Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin, the violence began when two groups of young people who knew one another crossed paths inside the mall. A confrontation reportedly escalated into a fight before gunfire broke out.
Police said members of both groups were carrying handguns.
The gunshots triggered chaos throughout the shopping center as customers and employees rushed toward the exits. One person fleeing the mall was struck by a vehicle outside, according to police.
Fairlane Town Center was evacuated and placed on lockdown while officers searched the sprawling property and investigated the shooting. The nearby Henry Ford Medical Center Fairlane was also temporarily locked down as a precaution.
Police later said there was no continuing threat to the public.
In an update released Saturday, July 4, authorities said two people had been taken into custody in connection with the deadly shooting. Investigators have not publicly identified them or announced formal charges.
“The safety of our residents and visitors remains our top priority,” Shahin said. “Shootings and other acts of violence are entirely unacceptable, and we will hold everyone involved fully accountable.”
The police chief thanked local officers, first responders and regional and federal law enforcement agencies for their swift response, including the Michigan State Police and the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud also urged the public to avoid the mall while officers secured and investigated the scene.
Police have been interviewing witnesses and others believed to be connected to the confrontation. Authorities are also reviewing available surveillance footage as they work to determine exactly how the deadly fight began.
Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information is being asked to contact the Dearborn Police Department at 313-943-2240.
