A TEENAGE girl has died after being shot inside a shopping mall, police say.
Chaos unfolded at the Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, Washington, on Wednesday.
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Gunshots were heard after a fight involving two groups of teenagers broke out near the food court, police told Fox affiliate KCPQ-TV.
A girl who was not involved in the fight was hit by a bullet and was rushed to the hospital.
Since then, police confirmed the girl died and was identified as Jayda Woods-Johnson, 13.
The 16-year-old shooter has since turned himself in and faces murder charges.
Lynnwood police officers revealed that his mother took him to the police station.
Mall workers spoke of the chaos that erupted.
“It was very scary, everyone was running and in a state of panic and it was very scary,” James Jacobo told the ABC affiliate. KOMO-TV.
He said he heard a loud bang before two men pulled out a gun.
The seller admitted he thought someone had dropped something.
Jacobo revealed that customers started running.
Mall employees then scrambled to evacuate shoppers into stores in a desperate attempt to keep them safe.
Police described the violence as senseless.
Officers revealed they are continuing to comb the scene for clues as the investigation continues.
They added that they have not yet recovered the weapon involved in this tragic incident.
Surveillance footage was released and police said they wanted to speak to a boy wearing a white hoodie.
Police asked residents to call 911 if they recognized the boy, as they believed he was armed.
The mall was closed and a shelter-in-place order was issued following reports of the shooting.
This order has now been suspended.
Police say the investigation remains ongoing and added that they had no suspects in custody.
Officers have since confirmed there is no threat to the public.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
