West Edmonton Mall was locked down on Monday evening after multiple reports of gunshots were reported to police.
According to a release by the Edmonton Police Service, police responded to the reports at approximately 7:40 p.m.
Three males were found seriously injured when officers arrived, the EPS said. All three were transported to hospital by EMS with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said they then locked down the mall as a result of the shooting.
Members of the tactical unit cleared the mall to ensure the area was safe before the lockdown was lifted at around 9:54 p.m., EPS said.
Police said officers remained on site to safely escort patrons and staff outside the mall.
The mall is closed for the evening, a West Edmonton Mall spokesperson told Global News.
According to the news release, preliminary investigations led police to believe the shooting was targeted and the parties were known to each other.
There is no further risk to the public at this time, police said.
Police said phase three of the mall will be inaccessible while the investigation takes place.
No other details were provided but police said updates will be given in the coming days.
Trina Goruk was walking into Sephora with her 12-year-old daughter and her friend for back-to-school shopping when they were told the mall was locked down.
The three of them immediately went to the back of the store with other shoppers, and then the staff turned off the lights and locked the store.
“We don’t know what’s going on. From what we are hearing it sounds pretty scary, but we know we’re safe,” she told Global News.
“There wasn’t mass panic, but everyone is worried.
“Thank God I didn’t leave the store. I can’t think what would have happened to (my daughter and her friend) without me.”
Inais Jackson-Greu and Devlin Thompson are Yellowknife residents who wanted to have some fun after being evacuated from their homes due to the wildfires.
They told Global News they were watching a movie before the mall was locked down. Lights came on 30 minutes into the movie and Cineplex employees came in to let everyone know they were safe. They were escorted out of the mall 20 minutes later.
“It was calm. People were curious and wondering what was happening,” Thompson said.
“As soon as I got outside and saw the police cars and the tape, it was pretty crazy,” Jackson-Greu said.