PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — One person is dead and and 3 others wounded when gunfire erupted outside a Safeway store in Vancouver late Saturday night.
A “confrontation” began around 11:35 p.m. as 2 men left the store at 6701 E. Mill Plain Boulevard, Vancouver police said in a release. Bullets were fired at the men as they walked out, but they were able to to get into their car and drive to a hospital.
But, police said, the assailants fired more shots at the victims’ car as they neared the hospital. Three men — aged 28, 35, 42 — and a 36-year-old woman were shot. The 28-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital, officials said.
PeaceHealth Southwest confirmed the shooting pursuit ended near the hospital, which forced them into a temporary lockdown.
“As a safety precaution, the hospital did go into full restricted access for a limited time,” a spokesperson said Sunday.
A witness named Leah said she was working at a gas station near the Safeway late Saturday when the shots rang out.
“I heard somebody yell and then about six shots. Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. It was scary,” she told KOIN 6 News. “I just ducked. I didn’t know where it was coming from at first. And then cars taking off.””
No further information is available, including the names of the victims or the conditions of the survivors. No description of the assailant was provided.
Vancouver police said the Major Crime Unit is continuing this active investigation. A VPD spokesperson told KOIN 6 News they do not believe there is any immediate threat to the public, but could not comment any further.
That concerns Leah.
“It’s scary because I don’t know if somebody’s going to come into the store or, you know, I never know what’s going to happen.”