DEARBORN, Mich. (WXYZ) — Three people have been shot and two of them have died after an altercation at Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn Thursday afternoon.
The shooting happened around 1:25 p.m.
Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin provides details in the video player below:
5:06
Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin says two groups of people got into an altercation before the shooting.
Two people were taken to the hospital, where one of them died. The third person died inside the mall.
Dearborn Police, Michigan State Police, and University of Michigan-Dearborn police responded to the scene. The mall was evacuated.
Shahin says shot were fired from both groups. The ages of the victims is unknown at this time, but the police chief says they are around their late teens or early 20s.
Watch our breaking news coverage ahead of the update from police:
2:18
6:52A motive has not yet been determined.
"These kinds of acts of violence are completely unacceptable. For it to happen anywhere is unacceptable. The idea that it would happen in a public space, a mall where people are shopping is unconscionable," Shahin said. "It's just unbelievable."
No one was in custody Thursday afternoon, but police said they were taking to people who had information.
Witnesses are telling 7 News Detroit that the shooting happened on a lower level at the mall.
"I heard arguing and fighting that was going on inside the mall," one witness told us.
Dearborn Police issued the following statement on Facebook:
Shahin said a person was hit by a car on the other side of the mall while trying to avoid the gunfire. That person's condition is unknown at this time and the person was not connected to the shooting.
The chief says people shouldn't be afraid to go to Fairlane mall.
"We've had acts of violence. That happens everywhere, but this is generally a safe mall, it's a safe city and I would encourage folks to visit," Shahin said. "I would encourage folks to not be afraid."
Shahin is asking anyone with information to call the Dearborn Police Department.
Stay with 7 News Detroit and WXYZ.com for the latest on this breaking news.