A knife-wielding man was fatally shot by police following a tense hostage incident at a shopping mall, authorities have confirmed. The incident caused panic among shoppers and prompted an immediate police response.
According to officials, the suspect armed himself with a knife inside the mall and later grabbed a woman, holding her hostage while threatening her life. Witnesses reported scenes of chaos as people fled the area in fear, with some shoppers running for cover when police arrived.
Police officers attempted to de-escalate the situation and issued repeated warnings for the man to drop the weapon. Non-lethal measures were reportedly used first but failed to stop the suspect. When the man continued to pose an immediate and serious threat to the hostage, officers opened fire.
The suspect was critically injured and later pronounced dead at the hospital. The woman who was held hostage was rescued and did not suffer serious injuries. No police officers were reported injured during the incident.
Authorities stated that the use of lethal force was necessary to protect innocent lives. The area was sealed off following the shooting, and an investigation has been launched to review the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police emphasized that public safety remains their top priority and urged the public not to spread unverified information while the investigation continues.
