Three Injured in Westfieldโ Valley Fair Shopping Mall Shooting on Black Friday
SAN JOSE, CA โค- A shooting at Westfield Valley Fair mall in San Jose, California, injured three people on Black Friday, prompting a massive police response adn a temporary shelter-in-place order. Authorities reported the incidentโ occurred shortly before 6:00 โคp.m. and declared the sceneโฃ safeโ around 6:31 p.m., stating there โคwas no longer an active shooter.
The shootingโ unfolded amidst the bustling โคBlack โFriday shoppingโ crowds, โคraising concerns about public safety during the holiday season. Whileโข policeโข have indicated the incident appears isolated, theโข event โขunderscores the ongoing issueโฃ of gun violence in public spaces โand the โpotential for disruption during peak retail periods.โค The โinvestigationโค is ongoing, with โขauthorities working to identify the shooterโฃ and determine a motive.
Emergency dispatchโค calls began coming in around โ5:35 p.m., reporting multiple people sheltering in place andโ evidenceโข of a โshooting nearโค Macy’s, includingโ bullet casings and aโ trail of blood. Dispatchers received reports of two to three injured individuals.
Officers arriving on the scene encountered โขa chaotic situation, with numerous โขpatronsโค fleeingโ the mall and causing traffic congestion as they crossed โขnearby streets. “We have multiple people running across the street,” one emergency responder radioed, according to dispatch feeds.
The shooting took place on the โsecond floor of Macy’s, according toโ police. Photos circulating on social media alsoโ showed shattered windows โat the adjacent Bowlero bowling alley.
“My prayers are with the victims and I noโ our officersโ are doing everything they can to findโฃ the person responsible and hold them accountable,” san Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Police have โคasked the public to avoid the โarea while the investigation continues.
