4 Women Shot Dead in Seattle-Area Mall

Four women were fatally shot at a mall north of Seattle Friday night and one man was critically injured, police say. Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis says police are searching for a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a "hunting-type" rifle who was last seen walking toward Interstate 5 after the shooting in the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, the AP reports. He says the victims were shot in the store's makeup department. No motive was immediately known. The FBI is assisting local authorities as dozens of police officers search for the shooter.

The FBI's Seattle office tweeted that it "has no information to suggest additional attacks planned," but did not elaborate. Authorities initially reported four people were killed, then said three were dead, before revising the number again. Police say the number fluctuated as authorities searched the shopping center. Gov. Jay Inslee said tragedy had struck the state. "We urge residents to heed all safety and detour warnings. Stay close to your friends and loved ones as we await more information and, hopefully, news of the suspect's capture," he said in a statement. (More mass shootings stories.)