15-year-old killed in shooting at Montclair mall; suspect at large

A teenager was killed and another injured in a shooting at a shopping center in Montclair on Thursday evening, authorities said.

The shooting was reported around 8:10 p.m. in the parking lot of the Montclair Place shopping center, according to Montclair Police Sgt. Andy Graziano. Officers arrived and found a seriously injured 15-year-old boy.

He was taken to a trauma center where he died, Graziano said. While officers were still at the scene, the police trauma center said another male patient was hospitalized with injuries. Authorities believe the injured person is linked to the mall shooting.

The second person, identified as aged 16 to 25, underwent emergency surgery, but authorities had no current information on his status as of Thursday night, Graziano said, and police have not specified the nature or cause of his injuries.

The investigation is ongoing and police have not released any information on a suspect or motive.

A Target store in the mall was temporarily closed after passers-by rushed to seek shelter when the shooting began, Graziano said.