As up to 10,000 shoppers strolled amid holiday decorations and Christmas carols, the Clackamas, Or., Town Center shopping mall erupted into a scene of horror last night, when a masked gunman raced inside the mall and began firing dozens of shots, The Oregonian reports. Emergency 911 calls, tweets from customers, and cell phone calls portrayed a picture of violence, terror, and confusion. Conflicting reports suggested the possibility of multiple gunmen and a half-dozen or more casualties, while the assailant apparently remained at large.

Two people were killed and an unknown number injured. An estimated 100 law enforcement personnel descended on the mall, including local police, state troopers, and four tactical weapons teams, backed by members of the FBI and Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. An unidentified gunman, 22 years old and acting alone, fired up to 60 shots before killing himself.  Shaun Wik was eating when he heard the gunman emerged near the mall's food court.  "I heard him yell, 'Get on the ground' twice," said Wik. "Everyone scattered, hit the ground. People were getting trampled." Bob Schwab, a World War II veteran who walks the mall for exercise, saw a surge of terrified shoppers rush out of the mall while one Santa took cover.