BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A gunman armed with a rifle and shotgun fired several shots in the parking lot of a mall in northeast Bend Sunday night, then entered a Safeway and fired several more shots, killing two people and sending shoppers to compete for the exits. The police also found the assailant dead inside the store. Police Chief Mike Kranz told reporters at a late-night news conference that they believe the man entered the mall’s parking lot from a neighborhood behind it. An AR-15-style rifle and shotgun were found “in close proximity to the shooter” when police arrived, Krantz said, adding that police did not fire after arriving at the store. There was one witness who believed there was a second gunman, but Krantz said their investigation showed “no evidence of a second shooter anywhere in the area.” Kranz said nearly 100 officers from various agencies were involved in the investigation of the “very large crime scene,” so it will take time to process the scene, including obtaining a search warrant. “Our hearts go out to the victims and their families,” Kranz said. “We know this is terrifying for our community and something we would never want to happen in our city,” he said, promising they are “watching every driver.” Kranz said police are aware of “information circulating on social media” said to be posts by the gunman and are investigating those as well. There were also reports of shootings elsewhere in the city, the police chief said, but officers checking those reports found “no indication of other shootings in our community.” Specifically, he said, there was a report of shots fired in the area of ​​Southeast Ninth Street and Reed Market Road, but police “found no evidence of shots fired there either.” “We ask the community to be patient as we work” the investigation and with any driver, call 911 if it’s an emergency, Krantz said. He also said he had just heard about the one injured person and had no details. 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. The live press conference took place just before 11 p.m. (starts about 2 minutes into the YouTube video): 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 the gunman opened fire in the parking lot near the Costco and Big Lots stores, then entered Safeway’s west entrance. “One person was shot inside the entrance,” he said, and was pronounced 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 the assailant dead in the store. 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.