Wisconsin police launch manhunt for gunman who shot and wounded seven adults and a teenager at a mall

Eight adults and one teenager have been shot and injured at a mall Wisconsin, and the gunman is still at large.  

A gunman opened fire at the Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, seven miles west of Milwaukee, on Friday afternoon, injuring several people.

ABC's local affiliate, WIS12, reported that eight people had been taken to hospital. 

Dennis McBride, the mayor of Wauwatosa, said none of those injured appeared to have life-threatening injuries.

Police were called at 2:50pm, police said.

'When the emergency services arrived, the gunman was no longer on the scene,' said Barry Weber, chief of Wauwatosa police.

'There have not been any fatalities that I am aware of,' he said. 

Barry Weber of Wauwatosa Police Department said there were eight injured in the shooting

Police Chief Barry Weber said 'there have not been any fatalities that I am aware of'

Large numbers of police were still on the scene on Friday evening as night fell

He said all were alive when the emergency services took them to the hospital.

The gunman was described as a white male, aged in his 20s or 30s.  

Seventy five police officers and at least 10 ambulances were requested to the scene around 3pm.

The mall and a nearby school are currently on lockdown.   

At least three people were seen being loaded into Wauwatosa Fire Department ambulances

The shooting happened shortly before 3pm at the Wauwatosa shopping mall 

Dozens of police cars were at the scene, many outside the Macy's department store at the mall. 

WISN 12 reports that the majority of victims were 'down' near the Macy's. 

A woman who was inside Macy's told CBS 58 she heard what sounded like eight to 12 gunshots right outside the store. 

'We were on the third floor,' said Jill Wooley.

'We heard eight to 12 gunshots, and dropped to the floor.'

She said she did not see the gunman, but managed to find a stairwell and head down into Macy's basement.

'We went through another doorway and found more employees, and told them what was happening. They immediately ran off to find some information, and what we should do. Shortly after we all ran out of the building.' 

She was with her 79-year-old mother, and both were shaken but unharmed. 

Mr McBride told ABC News the perpetrator is 'at large' and that SWAT teams are currently circling the mall, looking for him or her.

Police have secured the building, and are allowing those inside the mall to filter out. 

Wauwatosa Police Department asked people to avoid the area.  

'Idk what the f**k is happening but i'm sitting in p.f. chang's and people are RUNNING out of mayfair mall. no one is telling us what's going on,' one person tweeted.

'I am fine. I am away from the area. PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THE AREA TO ALLOW EMERGENCY PERSONNEL TO GET THROUGH.'  

Brookfield Properties, which manages Mayfair Mall, said in a statement: 'We are disheartened and angered that our guests and tenants were subject to this violent incident today. 

'We are thankful for our partners at the Wauwatosa Police Department and we are cooperating with them as their investigation develops.' 

The gunman opened fire at the Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on Friday afternoon

The Mayfair Mall was the site of a shooting in February 2020, in which a police officer, Joseph Mensah, shot and killed 17-year-old Alvin Cole, a black man. 

Police said Cole was fleeing from officers and Mensah, who is also black, shot Cole after the teen pointed a gun at him.

The mall was the target of sporadic protests over several months in the wake of the shooting.

The Milwaukee County district attorney declined to file charges against Mensah, but the city this week agreed to a separation agreement in which Mensah will be paid at least $130,000 to leave the force.