San Francisco Shooting: 2 Dead in South of Market Shopping Center Shooting (VIDEO)
A San Francisco shooting has killed two and wounded three others at a shopping center in the popular South of Market area on Friday. The incident sparked widespread panic in the area with tourists and locals running frantically for cover.
A gunman is said to have opened fire on police officers with shoppers screaming and running in shock.
Soon after, police officers reported seeing a man covered in blood in front of the Gift Center & Jewelry store. However, Chief of Police, Greg Suhr, has explained that initially police were uncertain as to whether this was the shooter or a victim from the shooting.
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The suspect opened fire on officers as he retreated into a restaurant, and he continued to fire at officers repeatedly until he ran out of ammunition, authorities have reported.
Officers reportedly refused to return fire as the location was crowded with shoppers and locals, and they feared hitting innocent people.
The gunman eventually ran out of ammunition and was taken into custody. He was taken to hospital suffering from non life threatening injuries. Officers have said they discovered a knife and a gun at the scene, according to The Associated Press.
Suhr has said, "We believe from video in an adjacent store that there was one suspect. We believe that it is the suspect we have in custody," according to AP.
Officials later found two women dead in the shopping center lobby, with one suffering a gunshot wound, and the other suffering a wound from an "edged weapon."
One of the women is said to have worked inside the jewelry store in the shopping center.
Investigations are continuing but police are currently looking into whether the shooting was part of a botched robbery.
Here is a video news report into the San Francisco shooting incident:
