2 dead, 4 injured in shooting at Idaho shopping mall

BOISE, Idaho -- Police in Boise said two people were killed and four injured in a shooting Monday afternoon at a shopping mall; one person was in custody.

At a news conference, authorities said a police officer was among the four people injured after officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect.

"I cannot stress enough how traumatic enough this event was for the community at large," Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee said at the news conference.

The Boise Towne Square shopping mall, where the shooting occurred, is located in Idaho's largest city and is the city's largest mall.

When officers arrived at the scene they found someone matching the description of the suspect and there was an "exchange of gunfire" that took place, Lee said. One officer was injured and the suspect was taken into custody, according to Lee.

Police interviewed dozens of people outside the entrance to Macy’s, one of five large department stores at the mall that has 153 stores in all.

Police didn’t release any other information, saying the investigation was ongoing. Both the FBI and ATF were assisting in that investigation.

Boise Mayor Lauren McClean offered her condolences to the victims and her thanks to those in the mall who came to the aid of people inside the shopping complex.

"I want to thank the shopkeepers, the people in the mall that reacted so quickly to take care of folks who were there," she said. "You showed in a tough and chaotic moment how much you care, and what you are willing to do to support and care for strangers."