The Howard County Police Department (HCPD) has shared the following, “COLUMBIA MALL: One person is deceased after being shot during an altercation inside the mall. There are no indications of an active shooter at this time. Will update.”
Police provided the following update via press release, “Howard County Police are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred inside the Columbia mall.
At 6:10 p.m. police received a call for gunfire in the area of the food court. Responding officers located one male subject deceased and are working to identify him.
Through investigation, police determined that those involved left mall property. There is no ongoing threat or danger to the public, and officers are working to evacuate people in an orderly fashion. Detectives believe the victim was targeted.”
The investigation is ongoing and no additional information is available at this early stage.