A man was shot and killed by police after driving into a Texas mall and hitting several people.

The suspect drove through a JC Penney store, covering approximately 100 yards, hitting multiple individuals and actively running them over, according to officials.

Dec. 22, 2024, 8:42 AM GMT+6

A man who drove into a Texas mall on Saturday, injuring several people, was fatally shot by police, according to authorities.

The incident occurred when the man crashed his black pickup truck into the front of a JC Penney store at Killeen Mall in Killeen, breaking the glass doors. He then continued driving for about 100 yards, striking multiple people and running some of them over, Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Bryan Washko said in a Saturday evening news conference.

Authorities responded by opening fire, killing the suspect. Washko confirmed that the threat to the public was over and stated that the Texas Rangers would investigate the police shooting.

Four individuals were hospitalized with injuries ranging from severe to minor, Washko said. Additionally, one person with minor injuries later walked into a hospital for treatment. No fatalities have been reported, apart from the suspect. The victims’ ages ranged from 6 to 75 years old.

Washko clarified that there was no active shooter at the mall, despite initial reports and social media rumors. Killeen police had already addressed this misconception on Facebook earlier on Saturday. The situation began around 5 p.m. when police received a report about a possible intoxicated driver. After exiting Interstate 14, the suspect drove into the mall parking lot and crashed into the store.

Video footage from the scene showed a heavy police presence at the mall. Authorities urged the public to avoid the area to allow first responders and investigators to work.

Killeen, located about 67 miles north of Austin, is home to Killeen Mall, which hosts over 90 retail stores.