Walmart shooting, Pittsburgh – Gunfire erupts outside the Waterworks Mall as SWAT officers hunt supermarket suspect

POLICE say they received reports of shots being fired outside Walmart at the Waterworks Mall in Pittsburgh. 

Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said the crime scene is large, adding that some people involved in the shooting outside have left the area.

One vehicle with a person in the backseat "sustained numerous gunshots" said Hissrich.

“How he escaped is what I would consider a miracle,” Hissrich said.

Witnesses say they saw a crowd running from the store.

Hissrich said investigators believe the shooters were originally inside the store but came outside before firing their weapons.

Four people were allegedly involved, says Hissrich, three of them are believed to have left. 

SWAT officers are doing an extensive search of the store, including the roof, in case the fourth suspect is still inside.

According to Hissrich, over 100 customers and employees were inside the building at the time of the shooting.

The store has been evacuated while the officers conduct their search.

Traffic in the area has been backed up significantly by police directing drivers away from the area.

A witness said she heard gunshots around 5:30pm after seeing two men argue outside the store. 

“It was like cement bags hitting a marble floor,” said another witness. “It was commotion before that, and then clearly loud pops.”

SWAT officers did not find any suspects in the store and have . An investigation is still ongoing.