Nine killed in US mall shooting

WASHINGTON: At least eight people were killed when a gunman opened fire before apparently taking his own life at an Omaha shopping mall in the US state of Nebraska, police said.
 
Another five people were injured and two remained in critical condition, Sergeant Teresa Negron of Omaha police said in a press conference Wednesday. The shooter died of a "self-inflicted gunshot wound", she said.
 
A witness working in the Westroads Mall at the time told a local CNN affiliate that the shooting "looked like it was random". Chuck Wright described the gunman leaning over the counter of the Van Maur department store and shooting one person in the head.
 
"All of a sudden I heard this bang, bang, bang," Wright said.
 
Other witnesses described widespread panic as people hit the ground and huddled together in shops. Witnesses said the shooter fired about 15-20 shots.
 
Police did not reveal any details about the shooter or his motive.
 
Negron said the mall had since been secured and nobody remained inside. All of the victims died of their injuries after being brought to local area hospitals, she said.