Bloomington Police informed 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS at 5:13 p.m. that a violent incident had occurred, resulting in two individuals sustaining gunshot wounds, and law enforcement officials were actively searching for those responsible.
During a press conference held shortly after 6:30 p.m., Deputy Chief Kim Clausen revealed that additional police patrols had been deployed at the mall due to the holiday shopping season.
Approximately 5 p.m., a police officer on patrol near the north side of the third floor heard a single shot fired and immediately notified mall security. Within a minute, Clausen stated that the mall was placed on lockdown, and police found a male victim with a gunshot wound to the leg. Officers provided medical assistance until the victim was transported by Allina paramedics to Hennepin County Medical Center.
Clausen reported that a confrontation between two males led to one shooting the other. The perpetrator fled the scene.
There was a second victim who was “probably grazed” by a bullet and received medical treatment at the scene, Clausen stated. Fortunately, no one else was injured.
A person in the mall shared their experience with KSTP’s Callan Gray, describing the moment when they heard “a loud bang.”
Just spoke with a man who was inside @mallofamerica when the shooting occurred. He described hearing a bang while getting his haircut.@KSTP pic.twitter.com/3rSEYpkGT4
— Callan Gray (@CallanGrayNews) December 31, 2021
At 5:42 p.m., police announced that the scene was secure, and the mall had resumed normal operations. Additionally, officers were no longer searching for the suspects within the mall.
Clausen stated that no weapon had been recovered and did not confirm whether anyone was in custody.
5:44 PM METRO Blue Line update: Service resuming into and out of Mall of America Transit Ctr following earlier police activity. Thank you for your patience as we get back on schedule. ^CB
— Metro Transit (@MetroTransitMN) December 31, 2021
Please note that this is a developing story. For the latest updates, stay with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on air and online.
Violence Strikes in Bloomington: Analyzing Recent Shooting Incidents
As a blog news writer, it’s disconcerting to report on the recent surge of violent incidents in Bloomington. The latest incident, which occurred at a local mall, has left two individuals with gunshot wounds and law enforcement officials scrambling to find those responsible. But what’s behind this uptick in violence, and how can the community come together to prevent such incidents in the future?
The Mall Shooting Incident
On a recent evening, a violent incident shook the Bloomington community when a single shot was fired on the north side of the third floor of a local mall. A police officer on patrol quickly notified mall security, and within a minute, the mall was placed on lockdown. Two victims were identified, one with a gunshot wound to the leg and the other who was “probably grazed” by a bullet. Fortunately, no one else was hurt, thanks to the swift response of law enforcement officials.
A Confrontation Gone Wrong
According to Deputy Chief Kim Clausen, the incident occurred following a confrontation between two males, which led to one shooting the other. The perpetrator fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. What led to this confrontation? Was it a premeditated act or a spontaneous reaction? The community deserves answers to these questions and more.
A Pattern of Violence in Bloomington
Unfortunately, this latest incident is not an isolated one. Recently, a shooting incident in Bloomington, MD, led to the arrest of 43-year-old Robert Sean Pattison Sr. on charges of Attempted Second Degree Murder, Reckless Endangerment, and First Degree Assault [[1]]. In a separate incident, a business was damaged during a shooting incident in Bloomington [[2]]. Furthermore, Western Illinois University was closed temporarily after two police officers were shot while serving a warrant near campus, causing confusion and concern among the Bloomington-Normal community [[3]].
The Need for Community Action
In light of these incidents, it’s clear that the community needs to come together to address the root causes of this violence. Deputy Chief Clausen’s announcement of additional police patrols at the mall due to the holiday shopping season is a step in the right direction. However, more needs to be done to prevent such incidents in the future. Community engagement, education, and support programs can help to reduce the likelihood of violent incidents occurring.
Conclusion
The recent shooting incident at the Bloomington mall is a sobering reminder of the need for community action to prevent such incidents from occurring. By working together, we can build a safer and more supportive community for all. As a blog news writer, I will continue to monitor these developments and provide updates on any new information that becomes available.
Sources:
[1] https://sheriff.garrettcountymd.gov/news/2024-06/bloomington-md-shooting-incident
[2] https://www.wjbc.com/2024/09/06/business-damaged-during-shooting-incident-in-bloomington/
[3] https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-09-05/wiu-area-shootings-cause-confusion-in-bloomington-normal