Two people were hospitalized after a shooting Tuesday night at Desert Sky Mall in Phoenix, and one of them was seriously injured. Police said the other victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries after the gunfire near 75th Avenue and Thomas Road.
Phoenix Police released a statement just before 9 p.m. on June 2, as officers moved to clear the mall in West Phoenix. The shopping center was closed off while the investigation unfolded, turning a busy retail site into a police scene in a matter of minutes.
That is why the detail about who was hurt mattered so quickly: the shooting left at least one person in serious condition, and the number of victims could still change. Police did not say who opened fire, and they have not released information about any suspect.
Multiple people were detained during the evacuation, but police said none of them are believed to be the shooter. That leaves the central questions unanswered: who fired the shots, and whether anyone else was wounded before the mall was emptied. For now, investigators are asking anyone with information to call 911 and stay clear of the area.
Desert Sky Mall, a major shopping center in West Phoenix, was already being cleared when police began sorting through the crowd and the scene. The detentions may help them piece together what happened, but they have not yet led to a public suspect identification. Until police say otherwise, the shooting remains a fast-moving case with two confirmed hospitalizations and no named gunman.
