Police say an argument preceded the gunfire; suspect fled as the mall reopened Saturday with stepped-up patrols.
SANTA CLARA, CA — Three people were shot Friday around 5:40 p.m. inside Westfield Valley Fair, a large shopping mall on the San Jose–Santa Clara border, prompting frightened crowds to shelter in stores before officers cleared the building. Police said the shooting stemmed from a dispute and was not an active-shooter situation.
Authorities said the victims — an adult man, an adult woman and a 16-year-old girl — were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators believe the gunman argued with the male victim before opening fire, striking the other two as bystanders. The suspect fled before officers arrived. Police described the episode as isolated and said the mall reopened Saturday with increased security. The case remains under investigation as detectives review surveillance video, interview witnesses and canvass businesses on both sides of Stevens Creek Boulevard, where the mall sits between Santa Clara and San Jose.
Shoppers reported a sudden rush of people running through corridors near national clothing retailers as loud pops echoed through the concourse shortly after sunset. Officers from San Jose and neighboring agencies arrived within minutes, guiding groups out of locked storefronts and through parking structures that quickly clogged with departing traffic. “This was not targeted at unsuspecting shoppers,” San Jose Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Jorge Garibay said. “Something occurred between two individuals that prompted the shooting.” Store employees said they ushered customers behind stockroom doors and registers while gates were pulled down. Police later escorted small groups to exits as units continued sweeping the building and a command post was set up outside.
Officials said preliminary information indicates the confrontation started as a verbal dispute. Detectives are still working to determine what led to the exchange and have not released a suspect description. The woman and teenage girl were believed to be hit by stray rounds, officials said. The victims were taken to area hospitals; their names were not released. Police emphasized that the event did not involve an ongoing threat to other shoppers and that no active shooter remained inside. Officers recovered evidence in at least one corridor and were requesting security footage from dozens of cameras positioned throughout the complex, including entrances near Nordstrom and parking decks that serve Santana Row across the street.
Westfield Valley Fair is one of the region’s busiest retail hubs, drawing Bay Area shoppers to more than 250 stores and restaurants. The mall sits on the city line and often sees joint responses from Santa Clara and San Jose agencies. On busy shopping weekends, nearby streets, including Stevens Creek Boulevard and Winchester Boulevard, can become gridlocked as garages fill. The shooting came on Black Friday, when crowds swelled as early evening sales continued. In recent years the wider district has seen sporadic violence, including incidents at nearby public spaces, adding urgency for retailers and police who coordinate patrols during the holiday season. City leaders condemned the shooting and said officers would remain highly visible as the investigation proceeds.
Investigators said they are pursuing leads on the suspect’s identity and movements after the gunfire. Detectives were collecting witness statements and mapping a timeline from the first 911 calls at 5:40 p.m. to the all-clear issued later Friday night. Police did not immediately announce any arrests or the recovery of a firearm. Officials said additional uniformed officers would patrol the area through the weekend as the mall returned to normal hours Saturday. Any charging decisions would come from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office once a suspect is identified and arrested. Authorities did not release a specific date for a public briefing but said updates would be provided as key milestones are reached in the case.
By midday Saturday, most storefronts had reopened. Shoppers trickled back past security vehicles circled near main entrances while workers reset displays. “We were hiding behind clothing racks and cabinets,” said Shawn Kulasingham, who was inside a fashion retailer when the crowd began to run. “It was a stampede.” Parents holding children moved carefully along tiled corridors while announcement speakers reminded visitors about lost-and-found pickup for items left behind during the evacuation. A few stores posted handwritten signs noting delayed openings as managers completed inventory counts and checked staff in for their shifts.
As of Saturday afternoon, the investigation remained active with the suspect outstanding. Police said they were analyzing video and ballistics and planned additional interviews with employees who sheltered customers during the lockdown. Officials said the mall would maintain an enhanced security presence through the weekend and that the next update would follow once detectives verify images or identities from surveillance footage or make an arrest.
Author note: Last updated November 29, 2025.