This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.
Garden State Plaza Mall Shooting Ends With Gunman Taking His Life
Last's night latest mass shooting event, just three days after a comparable situation at LAX airport, and this time just minutes away from New York City, is over with the alleged gunman, Richard Shoop, 20, taking his life.
The gunman who opened fire inside a sprawling New Jersey mall was found dead inside the mall early this morning with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.
Authorities identified the suspect as Richard Shoop, 20, of Teaneck, N.J., and said his body was found in a back area of mall around 3:20 a.m.
Police discovered his body more than six hours after they say Shoop entered the Westfield Garden State Plaza Mall Monday night and fired his weapon at least six times, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said at an early morning news conference. The gun, described as a modified rifle, was owned lawfully by his brother, Molinelli said.
Police are still sweeping the 2.2-million-square-foot building in Paramus to make sure all shoppers and employees evacuated. About 400 people were still inside the mall when police ordered a lockdown of the entire building.
There have been no other reported injuries at this time.
Shoop, according to Molinell, has a history of drug abuse and is known to law enforcement in Bergan County. Molinell said Shoop's drug of choice was MDMA, also known as "Molly."
Police found a suicide note at Shoop's home, but did not disclose what was written.
Bergan County spokeswoman Jeanne Baratta said the first call came in shortly after 9 p.m. that a gunman was inside the mall. Police initially responded to an "active shooter" alert after reports of multiple shots fired.
Baratta said SWAT teams and other police agencies converged on the mall. Authorities swept the mall because they were unsure whether the gunman was still inside. Paramus Mayor Rich LaBarbiera intially said police found one shell casing inside the mall.
Panicked shoppers raced toward the exits or hid inside the mall. Witnesses said they saw authorities running inside the mall with their weapons drawn. The mall was immediately placed on lockdown.
Multiple eyewitnesses said the shooter was armed with some kind of rifle, wearing a motorcycle-style helmet and black clothing.
WATCH: Police Respond to Shooting at New Jersey Shopping Mall
Mall restaurant employee Joseph Rivera said his co-workers saw the suspect "…in full body armor. He had a huge rifle and a helmet on."
Eric Delgado, 20, was shopping with friends inside the mall when heard a gunshot and saw the gunman. After Delgado saw the gunman, he along with seven others hid in a dressing room for 45 minutes and heard a second gunshot.
"He didn't seem that he wanted to kill anyone because he clearly could of because there were people two feet in front of him that he could have shot at, but he didn't shoot at them. Instead he shot towards the ceiling…" Delgado said.
A staging area has been set up near Chili's Grill & Bar for family members to be reunited with anyone inside the mall during the lockdown.
Law enforcement officials have been informed by management of the Garden State Plaza Mall that it will be closed today. No word on when it will re-open.
The Garden State Plaza Mall, about 25 miles west of New York City, features more than 300 retail stores including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, Gucci and Louis Vuitton.
»
- 20788 reads
- Printer-friendly version
- Send to friend
- advertisements -
Bring back H.U.A.C.!
+1 I enjoyed reading it again.
This story is not a national headline. It's not even a regional headline. Shit like this ought to be second page news in the local newspaper.
But Winmag, it looks like he could've been a White Nationalist. Al-Sharpton will explore this angle and accuse him of such ties since Shoop he 'looks like' he 'might' fit the profile.
Why do people write "could of" in supposedly proof-read articles?
Either choose "could've" or "could have". More than likely since it was quoting someone the first option would've been the best choice.
Thanks. Just another sign of diminished standards over the last 20 years (most of my life).
*quick read*
Uh, you guys are missing the most important part. Why aren't they "disclose"ing what the suicide note said??
it's being edited to include the requisite anti-government sentiments
Hmmm, I bet that mass shootings, particularly from young males, is like teen suicide; a first world, namely, US problem. K, I don't know anything about this kid, outside of some bad taste (tattoos), otherwise he seems like a strong capable kid, which is not to condone his actions but to say that things could have been different for him and everyone. Shame. Here's the solution - maybe we should stop f*&king with boys, and for that matter all kids. Maybe we ought to encourage them to be their full selves instead of holding them back just because its, apparently, the girls time to "shine" i.e. for political reasons. Also, why is it okay for just girls to be masculine but not boys? Aren't we all equal, aren't we all deserving of equal treatment, especially from the government that says its all things to all people? And isn't "masculinity" a four letter word today? If its so darn bad, patriarchical and evil why is it still encouraged, ahem, among a group of people that are naturally the opposite (feminine)? Can we start to see how this might amount to a huge mind f*%k for kids? How do boys reconcile the tireless promotion of radical egalitarianism yet experience every scintilla of prejudice and oppression that they're told was "stomped-out"? In short, here's the solution - let boys be boys, stop engineering them and, above all, stop holding them back and fu*king with them. What’s the worst that will happen? Ha, boys will continue, as the always have, to be rough and tumble, gravitate to sports and create masculine enclaves like the military, namely combat arms/infantry. And so what?
Symbionese Liberation Army
Haha, he looks like 'The Situation' Gym, Tan, Laundry, repeat...dolt
Our society might be truly fucked if the kids of today can get a "homicidal rage" effect off of some disco biscuits. Back in my day... (hahaha) good ole ecstacy made you want to cuddle up in a dark room with your friends, dance like a twat, and talk about your feelings.
They must be getting some CIA stash these days.
at the rate these events are accellerating we should be at 1 shooting per day in about 5 months. (If it exceeds 1 shooting per day it will spawn more media outlets just to keep up with the coverage.)