VANCOUVER, Wash. (KATU) — Detectives are continuing their investigation into the Vancouver Mall shooting on Halloween night and are reporting that the attack was targeted — and that the suspect was wearing a Halloween mask.

One victim was killed and two others were injured during the incident, which happened around 7:30 p.m. The mall’s food court was the scene of the shooting, and the mall itself was full of young trick-or-treaters and others celebrating the holiday. .

Callers reported that a person shot another person in the food court and fired several times, the bullets striking two other people. Police say the suspect was wearing a “Halloween-style” mask at the time of the shooting,

The victim who died at the scene was also an adult male whose exact age and identity have yet to be confirmed.

FRONT COVER:1 dead, 2 injured in Vancouver mall shooting, suspect noted, police say

The two victims who were injured were both male adults in their 30s and 40s. Both suffered non-life threatening injuries and were treated and released from hospital. No additional injuries were reported.

Detectives believe the shooting was a targeted attack on the man who was killed and the other two men who were shot were collateral damage due to the close proximity. The suspect fled the scene after the shooting and has not yet been located.

In harrowing security video obtained by KATU, the 16-year-old Bronwynn Cruden work at an escape room in the Vancouver Mall is seen sitting at the front desk for the business. Suddenly, loud gunshots are heard and the girl rushes to the front door to lock it. She retreats off-screen, but moments later, a group of adults, children and babies suddenly appear at the door, banging on the glass to be let in as the children scream and cry.

The teenager is then seen running to the front and unlocking the door, letting the group in safely, before relocking and escorting everyone to the back.

Witness Brianne Stoner was trick-or-treating at the mall with her family when the shooting occurred. She, her family and some friends were taking a break near Euphoria Body Piercing & Tattoo when she said they heard five or six gunshots.

“I froze for a moment, thinking, ‘There’s no way.’ No way,” Stoner said.

She said several people ran towards them.

“Lots of terrified mothers pulling their children and all I could think was, ‘We have to run now, because I don’t know where they are, they haven’t seen us yet, we have to get out, we have to hide.’

They ran to a nearby apartment complex and called family to let them know they were okay.

Vladdy Mrushenko was with friends when they heard the gunshots while eating at a Panda Express. He said he was so scared he jumped from the second floor to the first floor to escape.

“I had too much adrenaline in me. My heart was beating like crazy. I was like, ‘Do this, jump,'” he said.

Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle offered her condolences for the victims.

“This is not what Halloween should be,” she said during an interview. “What a horrible scene all those individuals had. It is not something that was expected or that anyone wanted. Our hearts go out to the victim and the victim’s family. I can only imagine what they are going through right now. “

When asked about the outstanding suspect and why city police have yet to release a description, she said the suspect’s mask would likely have hindered that investigation.

“When you hide behind a mask like a freak would do and do something as horrible as this, it could be anyone, and that’s why anyone with any information can call the hotline to provide any information that they- might have.” she said, adding: “If there’s dash cam footage that someone might have in their car or on our C-TRAN cameras, they’re going to use whatever they can find to see who, what, where and why, if someone left and what could be the car, but this is Halloween night, so there were hundreds and hundreds of people there who all left quickly.”

She praised the quick action of mall and store employees who helped the families.

In a statement, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat who represents southwest Washington in Congress, said those at the mall Thursday night should never have to experience such horror.

“I pray for the victim’s family, for those recovering from their injuries and for all those affected by this terrible act of violence,” she said. “I am grateful to the local and regional first responders who quickly responded to the scene and helped those injured, as well as the mall security and employees who acted quickly and courageously to keep people safe.”

She added that she hopes the shooter is quickly caught and prosecuted.

Joe Kent, a Republican seeking to unseat Gluesenkamp Perez this year, said he is praying for all those people who were affected by the shooting.

“Look, we have a real problem with crime and law and order. I mean, our law enforcement needs more resources,” he said.

He blamed Democratic policy, saying it had “eroded law and order,” and one of his top priorities is restoring law and order.

Anyone who may have left personal belongings at the mall can contact Vancouver Mall security to arrange to pick them up.

Anyone with information that may be helpful to this investigation and has not yet spoken to police is asked to call the Vancouver Police Tip Line at (360) 487-7399.

The investigation is ongoing.