10 People Wounded in South Carolina Mall Shooting, Police Say

A holiday weekend in South Carolina was marred by violence, as 10 people were shot at a crowded mall on Saturday and two others were injured in a rush during the gunfire.

Chief William H. Holbrook of the Columbia Police Department said that two of the wounded were in critical condition.

The police received a call about a shooting at the mall. Three people were taken into custody, though they had not been charged, Chief Holbrook said. He said one of them had fired a weapon.

He said that they don't believe it was random and that the people who were armed knew each other.

The injured ranged in age from 15 to 73. The hospitals treated nine patients and discharged two, according to a spokeswoman. The condition of the 12th patient was not immediately known.

The mall patrons were scrambling for safety after the shooting.

Blair Mcilravy and Kailana Brown, both 11, were shopping at Palmetto Moon, a clothing store, on Saturday with plans to attend the University of South Carolina's spring football game afterwards.

A series of shots were fired. They were escorted into a supply closet by Kailana's mother.

Blair said they heard people screaming and running.

They had to call Blair's mother because she couldn't get a text from Blair. The girls were escorted outside by law enforcement officers when Ms. Mcilravy arrived at the mall.

Ms. Mcilravy said that she went into fight mode after learning that her daughter had been trapped.

The police told workers to shelter in place and wait for law enforcement to arrive after they went store to store in a methodical sweep of the mall.

In parking lots near the mall, some officers are wearing vests.

The mall is ideally situated to serve the affluent and rapidly growing north and northwest suburbs of Columbia, South Carolina, which is the capital and home of the University of South Carolina.

The management of the mall said in a statement that the act of violence is upsetting and their thoughts are with everyone affected. We are grateful for the quick response and continued support of our security team and partners in law enforcement.

A hotel that was used to get people out of the mall was packed with people waiting for their loved ones. It was mostly law enforcement officers who stayed there.