Additional Coverage:
- Black Friday shooting horror at Valley Fair Mall as terrified shoppers flee for lives (themirror.com)
San Jose, CA – Black Friday shopping took a grim turn at Westfield Valley Fair mall in San Jose when two individuals were hospitalized after being shot. The San Jose Police Department responded to reports of a shooting around 5:40 p.m. on Friday. The conditions of the two victims are currently unknown.
Authorities swiftly moved to evacuate the mall, confirming that the incident appears to be isolated and not an active shooter situation. Police are currently clearing the premises to ensure there is no ongoing threat to public safety. Social media footage captured shoppers fleeing the scene as the situation unfolded.
The San Jose Police Media Relations released a statement via tweet, urging the public to avoid the area while officers investigate and work to ensure everyone’s safety. They reiterated that the shooting was believed to be an isolated incident, but the mall was being evacuated as a precautionary measure.
This incident in San Jose follows a tragic shooting just two days prior in Washington D.C., where two National Guard personnel were shot. Sarah Beckstrom, a National Guard member from Summersville, West Virginia, succumbed to her injuries in the Thanksgiving eve incident, which occurred a few miles from the White House.
President Trump mourned Beckstrom’s passing, describing her as a “highly respected, young, magnificent person” who was “outstanding in every way.” He noted that Beckstrom had begun her service in June 2023.
During a call with soldiers on Thursday, President Trump confirmed Beckstrom’s death, stating she was with her parents when she passed. “It’s just happened.
She was savagely attacked. She’s dead, not with us,” he said.
The suspect in the Washington D.C. shooting has been identified by multiple law enforcement sources as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal. Lakanwal, an Afghan national, reportedly entered the U.S. in 2021.
The incident near the Farragut West Metro Station in Downtown Washington, D.C., approximately a mile from the White House, was first reported around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Initially, the two National Guard soldiers were reported to be in critical condition before Beckstrom’s passing was confirmed.