SHOOTING AT CALIFORNIA HALLOWEEN SHOP KILLS ONE AND INJURES SIX

One person died and six others went to hospital after a shooting inside a Spirit Halloween shop at Solano Town Centre in Fairfield, California. The shooting began while customers were buying last-minute Halloween costumes. Three of the injured people were in critical condition. Police cordoned off the shop for an investigation. Authorities had not released the victims’ identities.

Shoppers fled towards the car park after hearing gunfire. One man said his wife heard seven shots before people ran from the shop. Another witness said a Spirit Halloween worker entered a nearby Chipotle and told customers that people had come into the shop and started shooting. SWAT officers searched the shopping centre, including a cinema where about a dozen people had been watching *Halloween*. Caitlin Fry, who was in the cinema, said an officer asked whether anyone carrying a gun had entered.

Police had not released a description of the suspected shooter or confirmed whether more than one suspect was involved. Investigators had not disclosed a motive. “This is still a very active crime scene,” police said in a statement. Police said detectives were speaking with witnesses and working to identify the person responsible. Spirit Halloween occupied a former Best Buy unit at the centre, which has around 130 shops.