Gunman opens fire at Christmas shoppers near Portland, killing 2

USPA News - A masked gunman wearing camouflage and a bulletproof vest opened fire Tuesday at scores of Christmas shoppers at a mall near Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon, killing two people and injuring a third before killing himself, police said. The rampage began at around 3:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday when a man, wearing a white hockey mask, black clothing, and a bullet proof vest, entered the Clackamas Town Center mall near Portland and opened fire with a black, semi-automatic rifle as terrified Christmas shoppers ran for safety or ducked for cover.

Sergeant Adam Phillips, a spokesman for the Clackamas County Sheriff`s Office, said two unidentified victims were found deceased inside the mall. The suspected gunman, who has been identified by authorities but whose name has not yet been released, was also found deceased as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. "The Clackamas County Sheriff`s is able to confirm that the suspect in the active shooter incident at Clackamas Town Center is deceased. At this point in the investigation, it appears that the suspect acted alone inside the mall," Phillips said at a news conference. "The suspect was an adult male." Brandon Paxton, a spokesman for Clackamas Fire District 1, said a third victim, a female, was injured and transported to a local trauma center in an unknown condition. He said Clackamas Fire went to a second alarm medical assignment during the shootings and dispatched a total of 22 fire units along with several American Medical Response (AMR) Ambulances to the scene. Hundreds of holiday shoppers and store employees were inside the mall when the shootings erupted, and many remained locked inside stores` backrooms for hours as SWAT teams worked to secure the area. The Clackamas Town Center is one of the biggest and busiest malls in the region with 185 stores and a movie theater. "We have already heard several descriptions by friends and neighbors who were at the mall, and it is clear that this random act could have easily happened to people we know," Happy Valley Mayor Lori DeRemer said. "Happy Valley and Clackamas County continue to work in partnership to provide safety and livability to our citizens and our adjoining neighbors. We are proud of the rapid and professional response of our law enforcement, and our hearts and prayers are with those who lost loved ones as victims." The motive behind the rampage was not immediately known, but Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber directed State Police to make any and all necessary resources available to local law enforcement. "My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. I appreciate the work of the first responders and their quick reaction to this tragic shooting," he said in a statement.