20-year-old Richard Shoop fired at least six bullets at a crowded Westfield Garden State Plaza mall in Paramus, New Jersey on Monday night before shooting himself in the head in a back room, CNN reported.
Shoop's body was found dead "in an obscure part" of the shopping center at about 3:20 a.m. He acted alone, authorities said, CNN also reported.
"We know that his intent was either suicide or to do something that would cause police to shoot him, which we call 'suicide by cop. He had more than enough opportunity to be able to shoot other people. Instead, he shot randomly at different locations," Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli told CNN's "New Day."
Shoop, dressed in black and wearing a motorcycle helmet, reportedly started firing at the ceiling, an elevator, an escalator and a storefront, but did not fire in the direction of anyone, Molinelli said. The motive was unclear, but Shoop had been both a user and seller of narcotics, news reports said.
Shoop also left behind a note, in which he wrote the "end was coming," authorities said. Shoops's brother called the police after hearing about the shooting, beliving Shoop could be the gunman.
Shoop walked through the mall armed with a rifle, which was "modified to look like an AK-47," authorities also said. It had been from his brother.
"More than 100 shoppers were still hiding inside stores early Tuesday morning, unsure of whether they could safely come out. Officers worked to evacuate each store," CNN also reported.
Shoop had a chronic history of drug use and abuse, according to Molinelli, and had been known to law enforcement.
Shoop, a Teaneck resident, worked at a pizza shop, where its owner Dod Geges described him as a nice quiet guy, although in recent weeks "something was off," he said.
