Search Continues For Tanforan Mall Shooters

SAN BRUNO, CA — San Bruno police on Wednesday continued to search for those responsible for a shooting at a local mall that left two teenage boys hospitalized a day earlier. Meanwhile, the agency has released some more details about how the critical incident at the Shops At Tanforan unfolded.

Police said it all started around 3:56 p.m. Tuesday inside the busy mall. A San Bruno officer who happened to be on the first floor of the food court heard shots fired from the level above, and immediately called for backup to the location. Responding officers started evacuating hundreds of people from inside, and found two victims on the mall's second level.

"Both victims were teenaged males, one suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen and the other from a gunshot wound to the leg," San Bruno police said in a news release. "Police Officers immediately began treating these victims, applying a tourniquet to the victim with the leg wound and a field dressing to the victim with the gunshot to the abdomen."

The boys were transported to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital by 4:22 p.m. while the evacuation of hundreds of mallgoers continued, police said. At the same time, law enforcement and SWAT teams searched the area for suspects.

Brent Andrew, spokesman for the hospital, said both victims were in serious condition as of Wednesday morning.

Police said they believe a dispute between two groups of people on the second floor of the mall led to the shooting.

"This dispute escalated and one subject from each group began shooting at the other," police said. "This does not appear to be a random act of violence. Both shooters fled the area just prior to the arrival of officers. The victims are believed to be associated with the groups engaged in the dispute that preceded the shooting."

The San Bruno BART station, which has a connected entrance from the mall, was closed down after the shooting. Oakland and BART police began supporting the investigation after they received information that the suspects may have taken BART to the East Bay.

Police are currently collecting and reviewing video surveillance from the mall, BART and surrounding areas.

"We are deeply concerned by the shooting that transpired yesterday, and are working hard to identify the perpetrators," police Cmdr. Geoff Caldwell said. "To be clear, our number one goal is to identify and arrest the persons responsible for the shooting."

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Francisco/San Mateo, released a statement about the shooting."I am relieved that nobody died and my heart goes out to the two victims who are still hospitalized and to all the people who were traumatized by this senseless act of violence," Speier said.

Officers recovered items left behind by shoppers as they fled the mall. Anyone with lost items can call (650) 616-7100 or go to the police station to retrieve their property.

The mall reopened as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, according to a management employee.Police will release updated information in the coming days.

Witnesses with information about the shooting can email sbpdtipline@sanbruno.ca.gov.