AT least one person has been shot after gunfire erupted from a New York mall on Saturday evening, police said.
Syracuse police and firefighters rushed to Destiny USA mall shortly after 7pm following reports of a shooting outside one of the entrances.
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The victim was struck in the neck but was raced to the hospital where he is expected to recover, a spokesmen said at a press conference after the shooting.
Witnesses said that they saw the shooter leaving the scene of the crime.
Authorities said they believe the shooting was targeted and are looking for any sign of the suspect, who is still at large.
Police later said the victim and shooter were both men in the 20s who had gotten in a dispute outside the mall, according to a local CBS affiliate.
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They asked residents and shoppers to avoid the mall area for the current time in a news alert.
Eyewitnesses told Syracuse.com that shoppers were hiding out in stores after security guards said to take shelter.
Shoppers were later seen fleeing the building after cops arrived.
"This is not an active shooter. There is no need to shelter in place," they said in the alert.
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Officers received the call about a shooting with injuries around 7:15pm on Saturday and headed to the Solar Street entrance of the mall, according to the Onondaga County 911 Center in a report by Syracuse.com.
Police made another update after 8pm directing anyone who could not find a loved one to head to a single location.
"Anyone that cannot reach their family member or friend, there will be a reunification point at the rear of Destiny USA at the Carousel entrance," the post said.
The police also reiterated that "No stores need to remain under lockdown, it is safe to evacuate the mall."
The SPD has been working with the owners of Destiny USA in recent months to bulk up security since a 14-year-old boy fired a gun inside the popular recreation spot in February, according to local station Spectrum News 1.
The teen missed his targets and hit a trash can, but rattled local business owners and officials.
“Our goal, whether you're in the mall or you're downtown or you're in any city neighborhood, is that you feel safe anywhere you go in the city of Syracuse," Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh told reporters after the winter shooting.
"And as mayor, that's my top priority."
