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Shootings

'Not a random act': Multiple people injured after Georgia mall shooting, authorities say

SAVANNAH, GA — Several people, including a minor, were injured after a shooting at a mall in Savannah on July 2, authorities said.

The Savannah Police Department responded to a shooting at Oglethorpe Mall on July 2, public information officer Neil Penttila confirmed to the Savannah Morning News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Police responded to a report of a shooting at the mall at about 5:41 p.m., according to Savannah Police Chief Lenny Gunther.

Police discovered three victims, identified as two young adults and a minor, with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, Gunther said at a news conference at around 10:38 p.m. Three other people, who were all adults, sustained "medical-related complications," the police chief added.

All six were transported by emergency medical service personnel to Memorial Health University Medical Center, the Savannah Police Department said on X.

"We evacuated the mall. At this time, we are in our final stages of clearing the mall — just to ensure there's no one left that needs help or anything like that," Gunther said.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the shooting involved two groups that appeared to know each other, according to Gunther. Authorities have not made any arrests in connection with the shooting but Gunther noted that police are currently interviewing all people who were involved in the incident at the hospital.

The incident remains under investigation. Oglethorpe Mall is a super-regional shopping mall located on the south side of Savannah.

Police believe two groups were shooting at each other

Police said in a social media post shortly before 8 p.m. that the SWAT team was still clearing out the mall. In an earlier social media post, police said there was no "active threat at this time."

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said in a statement on Facebook that the incident was "not a random act of violence."

"Let me assure our residents and visitors: we will find those responsible, and we will hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law," Johnson said in the statement. "We remain committed to ensuring that Savannah is a safe place to live, work, shop, and visit."

A Savannah Morning News reporter on the scene said that multiple law enforcement agencies were present on the site. There were also multiple fire and emergency medical services vehicles at the mall. One witness described the shots in succession like fireworks.

Earlier on July 2, Gunther reiterated during a Facebook livestream with Johnson that there was not an active shooter and there was no active threat in the area. Preliminary information indicated that multiple people had been shot.

“The information that we have preliminary right now, there's two groups were shooting at each other,” Gunther said during the livestream. “As a result of that shooting, we have three individuals — three males — that were shot, non-fatal shootings. We do have three individuals that were transported additionally for medical purposes.”

Local firefighter union urges public to avoid the area

Firefighters from the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 574, the labor union for firefighters in Savannah, said on Facebook that they were responding to the Oglethorpe Mall for a "police matter."

"This is an active and dangerous situation," the union said in a statement on Facebook. "Avoid the area at all costs."

The union said firefighters were dispatched to the mall at around 5:43 p.m. for the report of a shooting involving multiple victims who were injured. Additional firefighters were sent to the scene to assist with patient care and prepare victims for transportation to a hospital, according to the union.

In an update at about 6:53 p.m., the union said firefighters were still at the scene "doing their best to mitigate the situation," adding that police were in the process of securing the entire building.

"Fire personnel are still on location tending to any additional patients and occupants who are still stuck within the building," the union said in another update at around 7:47 p.m. "Police personnel are still methodically clearing the building and removing patrons in the safest way possible."

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Evan Lasseter is the city of Savannah and Chatham County reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at ELasseter@savannahnow.com. Richard Burkhart is a visual journalist for the Savannah Morning News.

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