The Cootles Way

I know…the holidays can be crazy.  It’s even more crazy when people do not act in the holiday spirit.

I moved to the Seattle area and started working at the Southcenter Mall two weeks ago.  It hasn’t taken me long to get familiar with city life.

After a busy day of shoppers and finally a calm moment in the store the manager decided to get something to drink.  Moments later people heard a popping noise and shoppers started to run in panic.  The jewelry stores instantly closed their gates and other stores began to follow in suit.  One person laid motionless near a kiosk after being trampled on.  I lowered the gate locking it while there were three people in store having them head to the back room.  Finally getting service on my cell phone I was able to contact the manager that was on the other side of the mall saying there was a shooting.   Once things seemed to calm the I had the shoppers leave the store but adviced them to leave the mall.   I heard from the manager again saying to lock the store but leave the mall.   While outside talking to employees and shoppers their had been two maybe three people shot and one was not going to make it (which later happened to be true).  Police, swat team, paramedics and news crew rushed to Southcenter leaving shoppers and employees fighting to get through traffic but able to watch most of what happen unfold.

After two hours I finally got home even though I only live 15 minutes away.  It was crazy but everyone seemed to know what to do which protected thousands of lives.

Even though I was there I don’t know all the details.   I know there was a shooting and two maybe three people were shot.  They were fighting before it took place and one person got hit in the stomach the other near their head.  The shooter and the victims are in their late teens/ early twentys and it is possibly gang related.  Unfortunatley one person has died and many have been taken to the hospital mainly because of the stampeed.

Hopefully this won’t be bad for business.