9 killed, 5 injured in Omaha mall shooting

OMAHA, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- A man opened fire in a popular Omaha mall Wednesday, killing eight and wounding five others before apparently turning the gun on himself, police said.

Two of the five injured were in critical condition, Omaha Police Sgt. Teresa Negron said during a briefing. Most of the victims were inside the Von Maur department store on the second and third floors.

Police arrived at Westroads Mall about six minutes after receiving the 911 call.

"We've secured and cleared most of the mall," she told reporters. "As far as we know, there's no other shooter in this mall."

She said investigators don't know what prompted the shooting on a sunny afternoon about an hour after U.S. President George Bush left Omaha after visiting a clinic.

"I don't have any information about what this person said, or if he said anything," Negron said.

The man was believed to be using a rifle, she said.

Omaha Mayor Michael Fahey and Police Chief Thomas Warren were out of town when the shooting occurred, Negron said. They were briefed and returning to the city.