On Sunday (July 17), a shooter opened fire in the food court of a shopping center south of Indianapolis, killing three people before being shot and killed by a bystander, according to Greenwood Police Chief Jim Ison.
At about 6:00 p.m. local time, several people contacted 911 to report an active shooter at the Greenwood Park Mall. Greenwood Police Department Chief Jim Ison told reporters.
Investigators think the unnamed shooter, an adult man, was shot and killed by a 22-year-old who was lawfully armed and "observed the shooting in progress," according to Ison.
One male and four females were killed, including a 12-year-old girl who was taken to the hospital by her parents with minor wounds following the shooting, according to the chief, who added that she is expected to recover "just fine." The second injured victim was in the hospital and in stable condition as of Sunday evening, according to Ison.
Olivia Harding said she and her mother were at the mall's Old Navy when they heard four gunshots and thought the nearby carousel was broken down.
"Next thing you know, you hear about six more shots and you see everybody running," WISH, a CNN affiliate, quoted Harding. Harding stated that she does not intend to return to a mall "for a very long time."
Although law enforcement had not yet removed any firearms from the site when Ison spoke to the media, he claimed that the shooter appeared to have used a long-gun rifle.
"The real hero of the day is the citizen that was lawfully carrying a firearm in that food court and was able to stop the shooter almost as soon as he began," Ison told reporters. He identified the bystander as a 22-year-old male who was armed.
With the recent killings at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, the local community has now joined a long list of others dealing with the fallout from mass shootings.
Police said they are still questioning persons who were in the mall at the time of the attack and looking into the shooter's motivation. The public has been asked to avoid the mall at this time, and they are requesting that any witnesses get in touch with the police.
"This tragedy hits at the core of our community," Greenwood Mayor Mark Meyers said in a Facebook post. "Please offer your prayers to the victims and our first responders."
