Two dead, one injured in shooting at Michigan shopping mall

A shooting at a shopping mall in Dearborn, Michigan, on Friday left two people dead and a third injured, according to police. The incident occurred just before the Fourth of July weekend, historically a period of increased gun violence in the United States. Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin said the shooting was not a random act—it began as a fight between two groups who knew each other and escalated to gunfire. Both groups were armed with handguns.

One victim died inside the Fairlane Town Center, and the other died at a nearby hospital. Details about the third person shot were not released. During the chaos, one person attempting to flee was struck by a vehicle outside the mall, Shahin added.

People believed to be connected to the fight were being questioned at the police station, but no one had been taken into custody as of Friday evening. The mall was evacuated and will remain closed while the investigation continues.

A video posted on social media appeared to show people running from the shopping center after gunshots were heard. Fairlane Town Center’s website says it houses more than 125 stores and restaurants.

Dearborn is a suburb of Detroit with a population of over 100,000, located about nine miles west of Detroit. Michigan State Police Lieutenant Tyhrann Howard said the agency is assisting with the investigation.

The shooting comes as the U.S. marks Independence Day weekend. In 2024, the Gun Violence Archive reported more than 500 shootings over the holiday weekend.