It's this time of year again... Nine killed in shooting at Omaha mall, incl. gunman.

[Mo]

Police: Nine killed in shooting at Omaha mall, including gunman

(CNN) -- A gunman killed eight people and wounded five others Wednesday at the popular Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska, before apparently turning the gun on himself, police said.

"We do not believe that we have any other shooter," said Sgt. Teresa Negron.

"The person we believe to be the shooter has died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound."

Negron said it was not yet known whether the gunman said anything before opening fire, because police were still interviewing witnesses.

Seven people died at the scene, and two -- a man and a woman -- died after reaching Creighton University Medical Center.

Three of the wounded are in critical condition.

The shootings began just before 2 p.m. at the Von Maur store inside the shopping complex.

The gunman had a rifle and most of the victims were shot inside the store, Negron said.

Police were still trying to identify the dead and were looking for a vehicle the gunman may have used to come to the mall.

After the shootings began, shoppers and employees streamed out of the building with their hands up.

Some described hiding in clothes racks, dressing rooms and bathrooms after hearing the shots.

"I was standing around getting ready to go back to work and all of a sudden I heard this bang, bang, bang -- it sounded like someone shooting fireworks," a witness told CNN affiliate KETV. "I ran to get away from whatever was happening."

Shoppers described scenes of horror as they fled the mall.

"We heard about 35, 40 shots, and on our way our we did see someone down by the escalator, bleeding," Jennifer Cramer told KETV.

Another witness said people started running frantically from the Von Maur area saying there was a shooting.

"I heard three loud pops," said mall employee Charissa Tatoon. "Immediately after that, there was a series of maybe 20 to 25 more shots up on the third floor." She said she saw a man shot on the second floor and "at least four or five" people brought out on gurneys.

The wounded ******* a woman who was in surgery in critical condition; a 61-year-old man who was shot in the armpit and suffered a chest wound; a 34-year-old man who was shot in the arm and a 55-year-old man who fell and struck a clothing rack with his face as he was trying to escape.

President Bush visited Omaha Wednesday but left an hour before the shooting, The Associated Press reported.

"Having just visited with so many members of the community in Omaha today, the president is confident that they will pull together to comfort one another," White House press secretary Dana Perino said, according to the AP.

As news of the shooting spread, people gathered outside the mall, checking on loved ones who were inside.

The shopping center will be closed until at least Thursday, police said.

The shooting was at least the fourth at a mall or shopping center so far this year, following incidents in Salt Lake City, Utah; Kansas City, Missouri; and Douglasville, Georgia.

from CNN.com

[Thaniel Buckner]

consumer whores deserved it