Police responded to Springfield Mall for reports of an active shooter in Delaware County, Pennsylvania early Saturday afternoon and the shooters are at large and it was the result of an altercation, police tell yc.news.
“At approximately 1 p.m. we received a call for an active shooter. When the officers arrived, no one involved was on location. Those that were involved already left the property,” Sergeant Jeff Sadoff of the Springfield Police told yc.news. “We believe one group of on the lower level, one group was on the upper level and they exchanged words. The physical altercation, we believe there were only two people involved, one person from each group.”
» See video of mall goers running for cover as gunfire erupts!
Police officers from over one dozen agencies responded to the scene and tell us the shooters exited from Macy’s, noting that at least four vehicles were struck by gunfire.
“This is a terrible incident but it could’ve been a lot worse inside the mall, I don’t think we would have been as fortunate as we were if the shooting were in there,” Sgt. Sadoff added. “We are lucky that while the gunfire was exchanged no pedestrians were hit. In this type of incident I think we’re fortunate that it came outside.”
Detectives from the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division are on scene collecting surveillance footage to identify the shooters, cops say.
“I heard someone yell down from the second level: ‘Meet me outside you little b—-.'” an eyewitness told yc.news. “The groups laughed at each other and went outside .. then all we heard was rapid gunfire.”
One employee from Target told us she ran back inside to ensure that her co-workers were safe. “The cop said to run the other way but I didn’t listen. I won’t leave until I get all of my co-workers out with me. I was on my cigarette break when I heard the shots fired.”
The employee noted that she was on the phone with her boyfriend, who asked her “what the hell was that?” as the gunfire erupted. She hung up the phone and darted back towards Target.
We broke the news … gunfire erupted outside of the Springfield Mall Saturday afternoon.