Police said in their latest briefing that four female victims have been confirmed dead, while one man was taken to hospital. Earlier a man was reported to be in a critical condition, while only three fatalities were confirmed.
"We're doing everything we can to find this person. Stay vigilant. If you see something, just like they say, say something," said Washington State Patrol spokesman Mark Francis as quoted by local Komo News TV. "Avoid the area. If you live close to the area, stay inside - lock your doors."
Police released a still from CCTV footage showing the suspect. Francis tweeted the shooter was "armed with rifle." He reportedly entered a Macy's department store around 7:00pm.
Police release photo of Cascade Mall shooting suspect -bit.ly/2dbQCcw
Police also confirmed they are looking for a "single shooter", while some reports on Twitter suggested the attacker could have an accomplice.
Skagit County police and fire scanner audio described the suspect as appearing between 20 to 25 years old, with a "skinny build," black messy hair and wearing a black shirt.
The motives of the shooter have not yet been revealed. The FBI has been investigating the attack as a potential act of terrorism, Reuters reported.
Earlier, it was reported that a person identifying as the shooter called into police, and crisis negotiators were being assembled, according to KIRO.
Video of police responding to active shooting at #CascadeMallafter we were evacuated from #AMCtheater. #PrayforSkagit
The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is on scene as well as the FBI.
At this time, #FBI has no information to suggest additional attacks planned in WA state. Assisting with intel review & manpower#SkagitDEM
Police evacuated the mall, then escorted emergency medical services inside to attend to those injured. The number of injured is unknown at this time, but according to some reports stands at one or two.
The Department of Emergency Management of Skagit County is asking the public to avoid the area.
SWAT teams are inside and outside of the mall, which features several large retails stores, cafes and a cinema; all roads in and out of the area are closed, according to KIRO reporter Gary Horcher. The manhunt is now continuing in a near-by area, where the suspect was sighted.
More police vehicles as we leave Cascade Mall.@BreakingSkagit @KIRO7Seattle
Police just cleared a report that this suspect was seen in a nearby neighborhood, Manhunt here is intense, on ground and in the air.twitter.com/MorganKIRO7/st…
“I think it’s too early to call it terrorism, but it’s also too early to take that off the table," Director of the Center for the Study of Extramism, Bryan Levin, told RT.
"Although, a couple of things: the fact that the casualty level is relatively low for someone who’s armed like that suggests to me that this could also be some personal issue, such as a targeted killing. But in the very early hours of these type of events, you want to make sure you have everything on the table, in case the facts change, and you need those resources. So, there’s certain operational reasons that one does not want to take the potentiality of terrorism off the table. But, unfortunately, most of these kinds of shootings are not terrorism-related.”
A witness who was trapped in a fitting room at the time of the shooting says she heard the shooter yell out a woman's name while going after escaping shoppers, according to Skagit Breaking News.
