California: At least three people were killed and an unknown number wounded late Friday during a shooting at a mall in the US state of Washington.
The gunman has fled the scene, police said on social media on Friday.
The shooting took place at around 7:30 pm local time at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, about 65 miles (105 km) north of Seattle, Washington State Patrol spokesman Mark Francis said in a Twitter post.
Francis told reporters that three women were killed and two men were wounded, with one suffering life-threatening injuries. He had earlier estimate the toll at four dead.
Officials initially released a still from video surveillance of the younger-looking suspect holding what appears to be a rifle, before releasing a closely cropped image of the same still showing only the suspect`s head and torso.
Here is the shooter. We believe just one shooter. Notify authorities if you see him. Armed with rifle. pic.twitter.com/GXeWCPYnx5
— Sgt. Mark Francis (@wspd7pio) September 24, 2016
Police received calls around 6:58 pm (0058 GMT) that shots were fired at the mall, located about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Seattle in the US Pacific Northwest state, Trooper Rick Johnson told CNN.
"Right now we can`t assume anything. So they`re still interviewing witnesses and trying to get a good idea of exactly what action to take next. We`re just asking people to, obviously, stay away from the area. Stay inside and obviously report anything suspicious that they may see."
Meanwhile, NBC News reported that Washington State Patrol have said that there is no indication of terrorism in the shooting in Burlington.
Francis said police were actively searching for the shooter, who was described as a "Hispanic male wearing gray" and last seen walking toward the Interstate 5 highway from the mall.
Rescue workers were entering the mall to attend to the injured, Francis said in a Twitter post.
The mall was evacuated and medics rushed to the scene to help the wounded.
Multiple law enforcement agencies and sniffer dogs were searching for the suspect.
A local hospital told a CBS affiliate that it has received one casualty from the shooting. The station reported that a nearby high school football game was evacuated as a precaution.
Francis said survivors would be transported by bus to a nearby church in Burlington, which is located about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Seattle in the US Pacific Northwest state.
Witnesses told KOMO News that a shooter walked into Macy`s and opened fire. Nearby businesses were evacuated, the television station added.
The shooting comes less than a week after a man stabbed nine people at a mall in central Minnesota before being shot dead. The FBI is investigating that attack as a potential act of terrorism.
(With Agency inputs)
