At least two people are dead after a “significant” shooting Friday afternoon inside the Fairlane Town Center mall in Dearborn, Michigan.
Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin confirmed two people were killed, and an innocent bystander was shot.
One of the victims suffered a gunshot wound to the head, while another was shot in the abdomen, according to a report from affiliate FOX 2 Detroit.
Law enforcement has not yet released suspect information, though Shahin noted the shooting was “not a random act of violence.”
“It was between two parties that knew each other here at the mall, and a fight began that escalated in[to] gunfire,” Shahin said. “It appears that both parties had firearms. We have a number of the people involved at the station and we’re interviewing them to better understand what led to this escalation.”
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The Dearborn Police Department issued an urgent warning to the public on social media, instructing all residents and visitors to avoid the area while officers work to secure the active scene.
“We are asking residents and visitors to avoid the area while officers secure the scene and investigators conduct their work,” the department said.
The mall will be closed for at least a few hours as police wrap up the investigation, according to officials.
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“These kinds of acts of violence are completely unacceptable,” Shahin said. “I mean, for it to happen anywhere is unacceptable. The idea that it would happen in a public space, a mall where people are shopping, is unconscionable.”
Michigan State Police confirmed to Fox News Digital it is assisting with the investigation.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
