Columbia Mall shooting kills 3, including presumed gunman

(WJLA) - Howard County police say three people died Saturday in a shooting at the Mall in Columbia, including the presumed gunman.

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Police say the first call came into 911 around 11:15 a.m. that shots were fired. Police responded to the scene and found three people dead inside Zumiez, a skate shop on the upper level, including one person who was found near a shotgun and ammunition.

One person was treated at Howard County General Hospital for a gunshot wound to the foot.

At a news conference, Howard County Police Chief William J. McMahon said it wasn't clear whether the shooting was random or whether the shooter and victims knew each other.

The scene was "believed to be secure" police said in a tweet released at about 12:36 p.m.

Police are relatively confident that there was only one shooter.

Witnesses described moments of panic as they heard a succession of gunshots and screaming as people ran for cover into nearby stores and hid behind locked doors.

Joan Harding of Elkridge, Md., was shopping with her husband, David, for a tiara for their granddaughter's 18th birthday. She said she heard something heavy falling, followed by gunshots and people running.

"My husband said, 'Get down!' and the girl that worked in the store said, 'Get in the back,' " Harding said. That is where they hid until police gave the all-clear.

Tonya Broughton of Silver Spring, Md., was with a friend getting facials for a 'girls morning out,' she said. "The only thing I heard was all the people running and screaming and saying 'There's a shooter! There's a shooter!' " she said.

Wearing a gel face mask, she and her friend hunkered down in a Victoria Secret store.

People were directed out of the mall and into a parking lot, where some boarded a bus and others walked toward their cars. Some people were seen crying.

Laura McKinzles of Columbia works at a kiosk in the mall. She said she heard between eight and 10 gunshots, followed by people running and screaming. She ran into the backroom of a perfume store and locked the door.

Allison Cohen, who works at the apparel store "Lucky Brand Jeans," said she always felt safe at the mall.

"I truly never thought something like this would ever happen here," Cohen said. "It's really, really shocking."

The mall is at the center of Columbia, Md., a suburb of both Baltimore and Washington