Manhunt launched after California Spirit Halloween shooting leaves 1 dead, 6 injured

A manhunt is underway for a shooter who killed one person and injured six in a Spirit Halloween store on Friday night, police in Fairfield, California said.

At least three victims are “currently in critical condition,” Fairfield Police Department Chief Dan Marshall told a news conference about the incident at the Solano Town Center mall, which took place at around 8:30 p.m. local time (5:30 p.m. ET)

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of this heartbreaking incident,” he said, adding that all of the victims had been taken to a nearby hospital. No further information was provided about those shot.

Detectives were “diligently working to identify the suspect or suspects responsible for this horrific shooting,” Marshall said.

David Bernal told NBC News affiliate KCRA that his wife was in the store when the shooter opened fire but she had managed to escape with several other people through an emergency exit.

“She’s at home right now, still in shock,” he said, adding that she told him she heard “five big bangs, big ones, like loud.”

He added that she started running and made her way “out from the one of the exits on the other side of the mall.”

The incident came hours after another person was shot dead inside a Spirit Halloween store in Madison Heights, Michigan.

“A 21-year-old Detroit resident sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital,” the Madison Heights Police Department said in a news release.

They later “succumbed to those injuries,” the release said.

The alleged shooter, a 21-year-old man, “sustained non life threatening after being assaulted by several bystanders as officers took him into custody,” police said, adding that he was taken to hospital.

“Based on the evidence gained thus far, investigators anticipate seeking criminal charges in this case,” the release said.