Salt Lake City mall turns into bloodbath
Pastor Dale Morgan
Feb 12, 2007 10:01 pm US/Mountain
*Salt Lake City mall turns into bloodbath *
Gunman opens fire at populat Trolley Square, multiple deaths
--KUTV-TV, Salt Lake City
(KUTV) SALT LAKE CITY A man in a trenchcoat pulled a 12 gauge shotgun
and opened fire at Salt Lake City's Trolley Square on Monday evening,
killing at least five people and injuring several more, police say.
Witnesses report that as many as 20 shots were fired inside the shopping
center, which houses many stores and restaurants that are popular with
families.
"There are several victims in the shooting... there are some
fatalities," said Robin Snyder of the Salt Lake Police Department.
Snyder also confirmed that the gunman is dead.
Authorities say the unidentified gunman walked into Trolley Square at
approx. 6:50 p.m. and started shooting victims at random. Witnesses say
The gunman appeared to be in his early 20s, wearing a dark trench coat
and carried a backpack.
A man named Jeff says he got a call from his wife, who was inside
Trolley Square at the time of the shooting."
"I just told her to be quiet... they were in the back of the Sharper
Image," he told 2News.
An antique-store owner, Barrett Dodds, 29, said he saw a man in a trench
coat exchanging gunfire with a police officer outside a card store. The
gunman was backed into a children's clothing store.
"I saw the cops go in the store. I saw the shooter go down," said Dodds,
who watched from the second floor.
At least four people were hospitalized. Two men in critical condition -
one 50 and another 16 - were at University Hospital, spokesman Chris
Nelson said. Another two people - one in critical and one in serious -
were at LDS Hospital, said spokesman Jess Gomez. No other details were
available.
The University of Utah Hospital and LDS Hospital are currently on
lockdown, meaning spectators are encouraged to stay away from those
facilities, as you will not be able get in without a legitimate reason.
The entire parking lot at Trolley Square is now considered a crime
scene. People with cars in the lot will not be able to remove them for
the immediate future.
The entire city block surrounding Trolley Square has been blocked off to
traffic and authorities are asking everyone to stay away from the area.