Latest Update from the Associated Press Wire

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) _ Omaha's police chief says it lasted "a very
few minutes.''

But when a shooting rampage at a busy mall was over, nine people
were dead and five others wounded.

Police say 20-year-old Robert Hawkins was found dead on the third floor of the mall. Witnesses say he was perched on a balcony, picking off victims on the mall's second and third levels.

Chief Thomas Warren says the dead included five females and four
males, one of which was the shooter. Police have recovered the
murder weapon, a rifle.

Hawkins is described as having had a troubled life. He had lived more than a year with a friend's family after being kicked out of his home. The woman who owns the home where he lived said he had recently been fired and broken up with his girlfriend.

Debora Maruca-Kovac says Hawkins wrote in a suicide note that he
was "sorry for everything'' but also noted that ``now I'll be famous.''

4:10PM

A shooting at Von Maur in Westroads Mall in Omaha Nebraska occured just before 2:00 PM.

A news conference just ended there at the mall. They are telling KMTV our local CBS affiliate there on the scene. Police telling reporters there on the scene that officers responded within 6 minutes of the inital 911 call at 1:42PM. 9 People have died from their injures including the shooter, 5 other people have been transported to local hospitals there. The mall has been cleared.

The person they believe to be the male shooter has died of a self inflicted gunshot wound. Police say that all victims are from the Von Maur store. There is no motive at the moment as the investigation continues.

Most of the mall has been secured and cleared. There are no thoughts that there are more than one shooter.

2 people remain in critical condition. 3 are injured as well with gun shot wounds.

The mall is closed for the rest of the night and may not be open until later in the day tomorrow.

4:00PM

Creighton Medical Center held a press conference just moments ago. 3 of the 5 victims have been brought to Creighton medical center, two in which were dead, they also have 1 person there in critical condition. The victims names have not been released.

EMS personnel at the scene are going back into action and taking stretchers back inside the mall. There are confliting reports now that there may be more victims inside the mall.

Cars have been blocked off in the parking lot outside of Von Maur hoping that one of the vehicles is that of the shooter.

The mall is closed for the rest of the evening. Police are expected to hold a press conference there at their make-shift mobile staging area in just a few moments.

3:50PM

KMTV is now confirming that 2 people are confirmed dead. 1 man and 1 woman. Another person reamins in critical condition with an additioanl 2 other people injured.

There are conflicting reports that the guman may have fatally shot himself.

3:45PM

Westroads Mall in Omaha Nebraska remains on lock down at this hour and the mall remains surrounded by local police agencies after a shooting at Von Maur department store before 2:00PM central time.

1 person is confirmed dead..scanner information being passed along by KMTV that the person is dead from a self inflicted gunshot wound. Police have not confirmed how many people have been injured although KMTV local CBS TV is there on the scene reporting that 4 victims have been sent to local hospitals. One hospital is reporting that they have a gun shot victim with an injury to their shoulder.

Buses did take people away from the scene and kept warm. The temperature there is in the mid 20's. Dozens of people await outside the mall for loved ones and for co-workers.

The shooting was isolated to the second floor of Von Maur. The shooter described as a young black male shot with a high power rifle from the third floor down to the second floor of the store. There were no other reports of shots fired anywhere else in the mall.

Witnesses say they heard up to 20 shots fired off.

The gunman is still at large at this time.

3:30PM
Just before 2:00PM 911 calls came in from Westroads mall in Omaha Nebraska that dozens of shots had been fired in Von Maur an anchor store there at the mall.

1 person has been confirmed fatally shot...conflicting reports from CBS affiliate KMTV in Omaha that that person had a self inflicted gun shot wound.

4 other people have been transported to a local hospital. There have been conflicting reports that there may have been more injured inside of Von Maur. Stretchers were taken into the mall and those same stretchers were seen coming out of the mall so a good sign that there may not be other victims at this time.

Witnesses also report that a man was seen in handcuffs, if that is the shooter or not has not been confirmed.

Local media there are awaiting a news conference by local officials for updates.

There are still reports that hundreds of people remain in the mall. Some have been evacuated and sent home.

The mall will be closed for the rest of the night once this situation clears up.

A manager with Buckle says he hopes this wont put a damper on the holiday shopping season.

3:20PM
Hundreds of people remain in Westroads mall which remains on lock down at this hour. 250 people are reported as hold up in the basement of JC Penny with dozens more in department stores throughout the mall.

A spokesperson for Von Maur says they will fully cooperate with police officials as far as if they have surveillance it will be released. They will not confirm if any of the injured are workers of the store.

The only reports of gunfire are coming from the Von Maur store. 1 person has been confirmed dead at the store.

There are conflicting reports coming in that the 1 person that has been confirmed dead may have been the shooter himself. That is unconfirmed information being passed along by KMTV. They are reporting that one person may have died from a self inflicted gun shot wound.

There are people in position SWAT team members and local police officers surrounding the mall and at entrances. A mobile command center is being set up at this moment.

Police are going through the mall store by store looking in every area of each store.

3:10PM
The shooting took place around 2:00PM. Witnesses say that the initial shooting took place at Von Maur. All witnesses have said that the shooting of up to twenty shots have been fired inside the store.

They say the mall was very full of holiday shoppers. Witnesses say they heard ten to twenty shots fired inside the mall.

We are learning that Westroads mall is a three story mall with dozens of entrances and exits. Police officials are still looking for the gunman inside the mall.

KMTV is reporting 1 person has been fatally shot. 4 people have been transported to the hospital. Latest reports suggest that there may be more victims inside the store at this time reports are saying 5-10 more victims may be inside.

The shooter is being described as a young black man dressed in army attire. He is still at large.

Dozens of people are waiting outside of the mall waiting for co-workers and friends they were shopping with to come out of the mall. Family members are arriving at the mall that had family and friends that were at the mall.

3:00PM
KMTV is reporting that 1 man has been fatally shot. Four other people have been transported to a local hospital with injuries. What those injuries are have not been released.

There are conflicting reports that the shooter may have shot himself. Police agencies on the scene are continuing to look for the person responsible that was said to be a young black male dressed in army clothing.

There are now reports just coming in that there could be five more victims inside the mall that need to be transported to area hospitals as well.

The mall remains locked down with a few evacuations that have been made.

2:50PM
Reports are coming in at this hour that up to five people have been shot at the Westroads Mall in Omaha Nebraska.

CNN is reporting that two people have been seen leaving the mall on stretchers and taken to a local hospital.

KMTV is reporting that 1 person has been killed in the shooting.

Evacuations are being made at the mall to get those inside out. The mall is currently under lock down. At least 200 people are hiding in the basement of JC Penny.

Both CNN and KMTV are reporting that the gunman is still at large somewhere in the mall. He is described as a young black man that was armed with a shotgun.

Stay with 13 News for the latest information on this breaking news situation.