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A man has gunned down eight people in a US shopping mall before shooting himself.
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Police in Omaha, Nebraska, said 20-year-old Robert Hawkins picked off victims from a third-floor balcony and then turned the rifle on himself.
Hawkins had left a suicide note saying he wanted to "go out in style".
Witnesses reported hearing as many as two dozen gunshots at the Westroads Mall which was packed with Christmas shoppers.
Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren said: "At this point we do have nine confirmed deceased, including the suspect. There are an additional five individuals who are hospitalised, two in critical condition."
Police recovered an SKS assault rifle believed to have been used by Hawkins.
Mr Warren said: "I can't speculate on motivation or whom he may have contacted. As I stated we do have a note, I can't describe the contents of that note, but it appears this incident was premeditated."
Mr Warren also said that the shooting appeared "to be very random and without provocation."
Witnesses said the gunman fired down on shoppers from a third-floor balcony of the Von Maur store.
Police said they received an emergency call from someone inside the mall, and shots could be heard in the background - by the time officers arrived six minutes later, the shooting was over.
Jeffrey Peck, manager of a leather goods store, said mall workers ran up to tell him to close up his store.
He added: "I told the customer to go into the backroom, and as I was shutting the gate, I heard two gunshots ring out."
US President George W Bush gave an address in Omaha just hours before the incident.
no ei. tuo address viittaa siis osoitteeseen, on sanonta. eli bushin "osoite" oli omaha vain vähän ennen tuota tapahtumaa.
