Authorities have identified Johntae Raymon Hudson, 19, as the victim of a fatal shooting Friday in a department store at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Hudson, of St. Paul, died from “multiple gunshot wounds,” according to the Hennepin County medical examiner.
A statement on Hudson’s family’s GoFundMe page described his optimism and caring nature.
“Johntae was the most loving and caring person to his family and friends. He radiated positive and fun energy and his smile lit up the room. He was an overall great person and we want to give him the funeral he deserves.”
The shooting occurred in a department store in the country’s largest mall on the day before Christmas Eve, Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said.
Hodges announced five arrests Saturday, three of them 17 years old and two of them 18 years old. Police said they are confident they arrested at least one shooter, but officials have not ruled out a second gunman.
Hodges said Saturday that authorities hadn’t determined a motive and that the people arrested appeared to be uncooperative.
“We know the how, the where, the what and the who. We don’t know the why,” Hodges added.
Bloomington police were unable to be reached for comment on Monday.
The altercation, which took place between two groups of five to nine people, was captured on mall security video. Hodges said Saturday that during the fight, a man pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots at the victim.
The shooting occurred just before 8 p.m., and the mall was put on lockdown. At 10:10 p.m., the mall tweeted that the lockdown had been lifted.
According to Hodges, a bullet grazed a bystander’s coat, but no other injuries were reported.
Several members of the New York Giants, who were scheduled to play the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, were present at the Mall of America when the shooting occurred. A few players were in the mall, while others were in the team’s meal room, which is a meeting-style room just outside their hotel, which is adjacent to the mall. Nobody on the team was hurt.
“Your first thought is, obviously, once yourself is safe, you think about your teammates,” wide receiver Darius Slayton said. “There’s guys that could have been shopping. Some guys in their room, some people are everywhere. So, obviously, your next thought is all your teammates are OK, which they were.”
The mall, which opened in 1992, tested metal detectors at some of its entrances this year, according to KARE.
The mall previously told the station that it was testing options “that may allow us to further enhance” its security systems.
Earlier this year, a man fired three shots in front of a mall store, according to KARE.
