In Missouri, the Independence Police Department responded to a shooting call at the Independence Center Mall in the 18800 block of East 39th Street around 2:20 PM. Upon arrival, officers located four shooting victims. Authorities say it appears the victims were shot inside the mall. The four victims were transported to the hospital for treatment with one of them being in critical condition.

According to an Independence Police Department social media post, it appears the shooting started when two groups encountered each other inside the mall. It is not known what initiated the incident. Independence Police Public Information Officer, Jack Taylor, said the two groups were firing at each other. Taylor also confirmed that one of the victims was female.

When asked about a possible slow response time, Taylor explained that the officer at the substation at the mall wasn’t on duty because of Veterans Day although he didn’t know what the response time was. He went on to say they had an officer working in one of the stores who arrived on the scene almost immediately after the call came in.

Police have taken three persons of interest into custody. The investigation is ongoing.