Gunman Opens Fire At Del Amo Fashion Center

TORRANCE, CA — A gunman opened fire at the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance Monday afternoon, wounding one man and triggering a massive evacuation effort. The shooter remained at large Monday.

Authorities are advising the community to avoid the Del Amo Fashion Center. The Torrance Police department confirmed that shots were fired Monday. Video posted to social media showed bystanders treating one man, bleeding from the shoulder area (WARNING: The video is graphic).

The shooting, at Del Amo Fashion Center mall in the 3500 block of West Carson Street, occurred shortly before 3 p.m. inside the mall near the Finish Line athletic apparel store and the Build-A-Bear Workshop. The shops are near the mall's food court, and the sound of gunfire prompted many to run from the area.

One mall employee who asked to remain unidentified told KTLA, the shooting happened in front of the Skechers shoe store. The employee said a man and woman were seen arguing when a man walked up shooter and shot the man, and the woman began screaming.

A nearby middle school was placed on lockdown while police searched the area. The shooter was described a young man between the ages of 20 and 25-years-old. He has a shaved head and was last seen wearing a black shirt and checkered shorts, Torrance Police Department Sgt. Ronald Harris said.

The police search of the mall continued until about 9:30 p.m. People who had been forced to leave their vehicles at the mall were finally allowed to drive their cars away Monday night, Harris said.

“Right now it does appear to be an isolated incident but we have several detectives on scene to do a thorough investigation," added Harris.

Within the mall, shops had been placed on lockdown and many store employees and shoppers sheltered in place as armed officers were seen patrolling the common areas.

“We just opened the back door, let everyone flood through and exit,” a Skechers employee told KTLA. “There was a couple families with kids, so we’re glad we got everyone out as fast as we could.”

Shoppers said they heard gunfire inside the mall. Video on social media shows shoppers fleeing the center and a massive police response from police departments across the South Bay.