BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Someone wielding an assault rifle opened fire in the parking lot of a mall in northeast Bend Sunday night and soon entered a Safeway store, firing several more shots as terrified shoppers ran for the exits. Three people were killed in the store, including the suspect, police confirmed. Officers and medics responded to the Forum Shopping Center shortly after 7pm following numerous reports of shots fired and one or more victims and/or suspects. A press conference is scheduled soon: Just before 8:30 p.m., St. Charles spokeswoman Lisa Goodman confirmed they received two people, one dead on arrival and the other reported to be in good condition. A short time later, he said the hospital had been placed on lockdown. Minutes later, Bend Police Communications Director Sheila Miller told reporters that three people had been shot and killed, including the alleged gunman. Police responded to multiple calls shortly after 7 p.m. reporting shots fired at the Forum Mall, he said. Miller said at least one shooter was shooting in the parking lot, near the Costco and Big Lots stores, and then entered the west entrance of Safeway. “One person was shot inside the entrance,” he said, and that person was dead on arrival at St Charles Bend. “Police believe the shooter continued to shoot through the store, shooting and killing an additional person” toward the back of the produce area, Miller said. Police found another person, believed to be the shooter, dead in the store. Miller said initial reports indicate police did not fire shots at the scene. Miller told reporters that police recovered an AR-15 rifle at the scene. A police spokeswoman said a “shelter in place” warning remained in place in the area “out of an abundance of caution”. Police planned a media briefing around 10:30 p.m. at police headquarters that said it will be streamed live on the city’s YouTube page, Goodman said just before 9 p.m. that “the hospital is on lockdown and we encourage people to stay away unless they have a medical emergency.” He was still “shaken up” two hours later, Safeway shopper Josh Campa told NewsChannel 21 of several terrifying minutes at a grocery store. The Bend resident said his wife had stayed in the car because she wasn’t feeling well while he went shopping with their four children. “About 10 minutes later, we started heading towards the front. Then we heard I don’t know how many shots ahead – six or seven. I immediately turned to my children and said “Run!” People were screaming. … it was a terrifying experience.” Worried about his wife, as it turned out, “by the grace and providence of God,” when he and three of their children broke through the big black exit doors from the production department, his wife had turned back and “sat the car , saying “Get in the car! Get in the car!” Kamba said he returned to find their fourth child, taking her out of the store and into the car as well. He wanted to praise the police for their actions. “When I came out of that store and the kids gathered, they (officers) run into the store. They are wonderful people. They deserve all the praise and credit in the world. It is absolutely scarier than you can imagine to have someone shoot your children. He’s a rock star!” Deschutes County 911 dispatchers received several calls just after 7 p.m. reporting multiple gunshots heard in the mall area at Highway 20 and Northeast 27th Street. Some callers reportedly said they saw someone dressed in all black, while others said a man carrying two bags of pretzels may have entered the grocery store. Others heard gunshots from the nearby Costco, to the east. Bend police said in a tweet that there was an “active investigation in the area of the Forum Mall. Please avoid the area. More updates will follow as the investigation continues.” Bend Police, Oregon State Police, Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies, Oregon State Police and Bend Fire & Rescue medics converged on the scene, including several armed officers and armored vehicles, amid reports that one or more suspects they may have left the area. NewsChannel 21 has crews on scene and en route and we’ll have details as soon as possible
