Columbia, Md. – A tragic incident unfolded Saturday evening at a mall in Columbia, Md., as a shooting left one person dead, leading to a chaotic scene where customers fled in fear or sought refuge in stores for hours, according to both police and witnesses. The victim, identified as male, was discovered in the Mall in Columbia after Howard County police responded to reports of gunfire near the food court around 6:10 p.m. The identity of the victim has not been released at this time. Authorities believe that the shooting was targeted and stemmed from an altercation, with those involved fleeing the scene. Howard County police have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat following the incident. By 9 p.m., police confirmed that the mall had been cleared of any potential danger. Witnesses took to social media to recount their harrowing experiences during the terrifying ordeal. One individual shared their fear, recalling the moment they heard a loud bang and described how they and others ran for safety. Another witness described the panic and urgency as they and a friend sprinted away from the noise. A different post detailed a terrifying encounter where a family member found themselves in the midst of the chaos, running for their life. In the midst of the turmoil, a shopper expressed gratitude towards employees at the Sephora store who provided snacks and water to those seeking shelter during the evacuation. This is not the first time that tragedy has struck this particular mall, as in January 2014, the same location was the site of a triple shooting resulting in three fatalities. The Mall in Columbia is located approximately 25 miles northeast of Washington, D.C.
