Oregon mall reopening 3 days after deadly attack
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Clackamas Town Center shopping mall reopened Friday three days after a gunman killed two people and wounded a third amid a holiday crowd estimated at 10,000 people.
Among the shoppers gathered for the 9 a.m. opening Friday was 84-year-old Marion Hango of Clackamas, who said she wanted to be there to support the workers.
"I've been thinking about it for several days, just like everybody else," she said. "But I felt it was necessary, not just for me, but for everybody else, the people who work here.
"My daughter was going to order something off the Internet for my grandson, and I said, 'No, I'm going to buy it at the mall, just to help them,'" she said.
The mall was closed Wednesday and Thursday as officers worked on their investigation and contractors repaired damage.
The shooter, Jacob Tyler Roberts, killed himself after the attack Tuesday afternoon, authorities have said.
Security precautions were intensified for the reopening, the Clackamas County sheriff's office said.
At a news conference before the reopening, the mall's general manager, Dennis Curtis, declined to estimate how much the closure had cost in lost sales.
"It's really hard at this time to focus on profits and sales," he said.
Among the shoppers gathered for the 9 a.m. opening Friday was 84-year-old Marion Hango of Clackamas, who said she wanted to be there to support the workers.
"I've been thinking about it for several days, just like everybody else," she said. "But I felt it was necessary, not just for me, but for everybody else, the people who work here.
"My daughter was going to order something off the Internet for my grandson, and I said, 'No, I'm going to buy it at the mall, just to help them,'" she said.
The mall was closed Wednesday and Thursday as officers worked on their investigation and contractors repaired damage.
The shooter, Jacob Tyler Roberts, killed himself after the attack Tuesday afternoon, authorities have said.
Security precautions were intensified for the reopening, the Clackamas County sheriff's office said.
At a news conference before the reopening, the mall's general manager, Dennis Curtis, declined to estimate how much the closure had cost in lost sales.
"It's really hard at this time to focus on profits and sales," he said.
Yeah we open the mall, all's okay, now we got the school. I'm sure every worker and shopper is thinking about that now.
It was critical for the merchants that the mall reopen A.S.A.P. . Many retailers make 50% of their annual profit during the Christmas shopping season.
Reopen, make an effort to try and return to a semblance of normal life. Remember those lost, and support those still around.
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I will not live my life in fear.
Glad they re-opened quickly. Â Best way to not give that nut more exposure is to return to business.
Yeah, just rely on security and keep banning guns from the mall, I'm sure all the criminals and crazies will abide by the ban and the security will perfectly protect everyone....