MOSCOW, January 17 (Sputnik) – A shooting in central Florida resulted in the death of the gunman and two people injured, according to local TV channel WESH 2 News.
"At this time, we believe the situation is contained," Melbourne, Florida police chief told Reuters.
The shooting occurred at around 10:00 a.m., prior to the mall being opened, AP reported.
The shooter opened fire in the mall's food court, and the mall has been evacuated according to WESH 2 News.
Police say gunman was the person who died in shooting at mall in Melbourne, Fla., from self-inflicted shot — @WESH http://t.co/KQd4F3o1Q9
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) 17 января 2015
"Officers currently working a shooting at Melbourne Square Mall. Officers have control of [the] situation, mall temporarily closed," a message on Melbourne Police Twitter account read.
However, media reports emerged later claiming that the gunman injured two people and then turned the gun on himself before being confronted by police.
Gun violence has become more frequent in the United States, with public shootings taking place every two months, according to Harvard research published last October. In the most tragic incident, 20 first-grade students and six adults were killed by a lone shooter in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut on December 14, 2012.
