West Edmonton Mall shooting: 3 seriously injured
Posted August 22, 2023 8:38 am.
Three men were injured in a shooting Monday night at West Edmonton Mall, where those inside were locked down in stores and restaurants for two hours.
Police say the men were taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Police believed the shooting was targeted and that the shooter and victims are known each other. There was no word on an arrest.
The lockdown was ordered for the safety of shoppers and staff, police added.
Edmonton Police respond to reports of multiple shootings @ the West Edmonton Mall, currently in a lockdown. Police urge public to stay away from the Mall in light of their safety. #Yeg #Yegcc #yegtraffic pic.twitter.com/RMFHnqO2EE
— Siddi Chudal (@s_chudal) August 22, 2023
“Members of the (Edmonton Police Service) Tactical Unit responded and systematically cleared the facility to ensure it was safe prior to the lockdown being lifted,” according to an EPS release.
It said the shooting happened in Phase 3 of the mall and it would not be accessible during the police investigation.
The area is in the western half of the shopping centre and is home to a massive water park and the Marine Life aquarium.
This is the scene outside West Edmonton Mall. While many people anxiously wait outside, others flee the scene whatever way they can.
No new update from police.
There is no shortage of officers spaced out all around the building.
Heavy police presence outside the theatre. pic.twitter.com/Y83A0NFDVA
— Elliott Knopp (@ElliottKnopp) August 22, 2023
The mall, one of the largest in North America and a major tourist attraction, says on its website that it conducts lockdown drills four times a year to prepare for emergencies.
The mall has more than 800 stores, 100 restaurants, an amusement park, a shooting range, a skating rink and a pirate ship. It sees about 30 million visitors a year.
