News from the people’s perspective

Employee on Scene Describes Shooting at Columbia Mall

Three people were killed and four injured at a shopping mall in Columbia, MD when a shooter opened fire Saturday morning. The shooter was among the fatalities.

Rob Brune interviews Columbia Mall employee Patti Lareau, who works at the kiosk directly across from the Zumiez skate shop where the shooting took place. She describes hearing shots and being caught up in the ensuing chaos as people scramble to escape the mall.

“I’m the luckiest woman in Columbia,” she says. “That could have been me.”

Shootings in public places have been epidemic in 2014, including seven school shootings so far.

More scenes from outside the mall: