Shooting in Michigan mall leaves at least 2 dead: Authorities

At least two people have died in a shooting inside a mall in Dearborn, Michigan, on Friday.

Three people in total were shot at Fairlane Town Center, according to law enforcement officials. Local police have placed the mall on lockdown while asking residents to avoid the area as they investigate the shooting, which officers responded to around 1:25 p.m.

The shooting stemmed from an altercation between two groups of young people who appeared to know each other, according to Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin.

“I can tell you that our investigation at this point is preliminary, so very active, but it appears this was not a random act of violence. It was between two parties that knew each other here at the mall, and a fight began to escalate into gunfire. It appears that both parties had firearms,” Shahin told reporters on Friday evening.

Shahin said the Dearborn Police Department brought several individuals involved into the police station for questioning. He said the responding officers found the three gunshot victims and began treating the individuals. One of them died on the scene, while another died at a local hospital.

Michigan state police assisted local law enforcement in their response to the incident. The Washington Examiner contacted the Dearborn Police Department for further comment.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.