OMAHA, Neb. -- Police say nine people and a suspected gunman are dead and five injured following a mall shooting in Omaha, Neb.
Police Sgt. Teresa Agron said the suspected gunman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The mall has been evacuated, locked down and will likely remain closed until Thursday.
First responders can be seen escorting people from the building. Its surrounding parking lots are filled with emergency vehicles, evacuated shoppers and onlookers.
Jennifer Kramer, a witness, told KETV that she heard 35 to 40 shots as she was taking cover inside the mall. Another witness, who was shopping with Kramer, said she "just kept hoping God would spare us."
It was unclear whether the shooter was still inside the mall or whether other people were wounded. Two people were seen being removed on stretchers, and rescue workers were taking more stretchers inside the building.
Keith Fidler, a Von Maur store employee, told The Associated Press he heard a burst of five to six shots followed by 15 to 20 more shots. Fidler said he huddled in the corner of the men's clothing department with about a dozen other employees until police yelled to get out of the store.
Fidler said he did not see the shooting but saw a person lying still by an elevator as he was leaving the store.
A woman who answered the phone at an Old Navy store said 20 to 30 customers were huddled with employees in a back storeroom.
"All we know was people were running and screaming down the hallway by Von Maur saying there was a shooting, and then they locked us down," said the woman, who said her name was Heidi.
Another witness told KETV that she was locked inside the mall. She said she was doing Christmas shopping at a store called Younkers, when an announcement was made that no one would be allowed to leave.
