Omaha - As Many As 9 Killed In Westroads Shopping Mall Shooting

December 5, 2007

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BREAKING: As many as 9 people have been killed in a shopping mall in Omaha, Nebraska. Watch Live Online Coverage

Update: NTARC is the first to report this additional information: We reported last week that a grenade was found at this same shopping mall.

Read Original Story Here

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Officers went to the northwest corner of the parking lot at Westroads Mall after someone reported finding an explosive device. The mall security directed officers to the area of the parking lot where the device was located. The Omaha Police Bomb Squad Unit was called and removed the intact grenade safely from the area.

A source stated the grenade was lying on the ground with no note or information, but that it did have a pin in it. The source said it looked like a pineapple grenade.

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UPDATE: 3:55pm: Possible suicide note found. 19 year old shooter. First name of “Robbie”. “Wanted to go out in style” Shooter sent text message to ex-girlfriend saying he was going to, “go out in a blaze of glory.” Hat Tip -My Pet Jawa
UPDATE 3:30pm: Eight innocent people and the gunman are confirmed dead.

UPDATE 2:33pm : Suspect taken into custody.

UPDATE 2:20pm : One person is confirmed dead in a shooting at Westroads Mall. Up to 10 people may have been shot - Action 3 News has learned 4 people may have been taken to the hospital. Witnesses report hearing up to 20 shots and seeing people fall to the ground.

There are possibly two suspects. One of them may be among the dead. Radio reports indicate one person has a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Another suspect may be in custody - according to police reports. Police are asking everyone to stay away from the area. The neighborhoods around the mall are believed to be safe. Police are asking anyone in their cars outside the mall to stay inside their cars.

Von Maur’s Director of Sales says the store has a policy in place for emergencies such as this. He says workers at the Omaha store went through training for emergencies within the past year.

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The mall was placed under lockdown Wednesday afternoon after the first shooting was reported.

Authorities told the Associated Press that it isn’t known whether the shooter - or shooters - are still inside the mall or how many people were shot or injured at Westroads Mall in west Omaha. However, CNN is reporting that as many as five people have been shot.

At least two people were seen being removed on stretchers and Omaha television station KETV confirms that an elderly man was shot inside the mall.

Police are letting some people leave the shopping complex, but no one is being allowed to enter.

An employee of Von Maur department store says he heard a burst of five to six shots followed by 15 to 20 shots.

A woman who answered the phone at the Old Navy store said 20 to 30 customers were huddled with employees in a back storeroom.

President Bush was in Omaha for a fundraiser, but left about an hour before the shooting.

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