Authorities identified 19-year-old Darion Marcus Aguilar as the gunman who opened fire at a Columbia shopping mall on Saturday, killing two store employees before turning the gun on himself, CNN reported.
According to police, Aguilar arrived at The Mall in Columbia in a cab and walked around for about an hour before firing his gun at least half a dozen times at Zumiez. Once he got to the store on the second floor, he fatally shot Brianna Benlolo, 21, and Tyler Johnson, 25 before committing suicide.
In addition to killing the store employees, a total of five others were injured and transported to Howard County General Hospital.
One victim suffered a gunshot wound to the foot and the rest were treated for injuries resulting from the chaotic scene, including a sprained ankle and seizure. All five victims were successfully treated and released.
A motive for the shooting is unknown and came after a week of shootings and gun scares happened across American universities, including Widener, Purdue, University of Oklahoma, and South Carolina State University.
Aguilar was officially identified by Howard County Police Chief Bill McMahon on Sunday morning. According to McMahon, Aguilar purchased the gun last month.
Police also learned that Aguilar was carrying a backpack with two homemade bombs, though both of them were disabled.
Officers arrived to the mall two minutes after the first 911 call was made around 11:15 a.m., police told CNN. Officials said thousands of people were inside during the shooting, hiding behind store counters, restrooms, and fitting rooms for hours after it ended.
"Think about this, on a Saturday afternoon at the mall, how many people may be in there," McMahon said on Saturday. "Something like this happens and people run in many directions, and they also do what we train them to do -- shelter in place."
