One dead, six injured in shooting at California Spirit Halloween store

FAIRFIELD, CALIFORNIA. One person was killed and six others injured after a shooting broke out inside a Spirit Halloween store at a California shopping mall packed with last-minute Halloween shoppers on Friday night, October 30. Three of the injured victims were listed in critical condition, while the suspected shooter remained at large, according to police.

Gunfire erupted at around 8:30 pm inside the seasonal retail store at Solano Town Center mall in Fairfield. Police Chief Dan Marshall said one person was pronounced dead at the scene, while six others were taken to a hospital for treatment. Authorities had not released the victims' identities or ages.

Gunfire erupts inside crowded Halloween store

The shooting occurred while the Spirit Halloween store was open and customers were shopping ahead of Halloween. Witnesses described hearing multiple gunshots before people began running from the store and seeking safety elsewhere in the mall.

One witness told KCRA that his wife heard the gunfire and saw people running, yelling and crying.

The man said his wife reported hearing approximately seven shots before shoppers fled toward the parking lots and other areas of the shopping center.

Another account shared with the Vacaville Reporter described how an employee from the Spirit Halloween store ran into a nearby Chipotle restaurant and said people had entered the store and started shooting.

Suspected shooter remains at large as police investigate

Fairfield police had not released a description of the suspected shooter or confirmed whether more than one person was involved. Authorities also had not disclosed a possible motive.

"This is still a very active crime scene. Detectives are speaking with witnesses and diligently working to identify the suspect responsible for this horrific shooting," police said in a statement.

SWAT teams searched the shopping mall to determine whether any suspects were still inside. Officers also checked the Regal Edwards movie theater as part of the operation.

Moviegoers watching the horror film Halloween at the Regal Edwards theater were startled when a SWAT officer entered during the police search.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were sent to the shopping center to assist local authorities. The FBI's Sacramento office confirmed it was deploying its Evidence Response Team to support the Fairfield Police Department.

The shooting happened at the mall on Gateway Boulevard, which houses approximately 130 stores. The Spirit Halloween outlet had occupied a space previously used by Best Buy as a temporary seasonal store.