Police in Fairfield, California, are hunting for the person who opened fire inside a crowded Spirit Halloween store on Friday night. One person was killed and six more were wounded as families squeezed in last-minute costume shopping on the eve of the holiday.

Officers were called to the store at Solano Town Center around 8:30 p.m. local time. The person who died was pronounced dead at the scene. The six other victims were rushed to area hospitals and at least three of them are listed in critical condition. Their names and ages have not been made public.

No one was in custody early Saturday. Fairfield Police Chief Dan Marshall said detectives were working around the clock to identify whoever pulled the trigger. He said the department's thoughts and prayers were with the families of the victims. Investigators were still trying to work out how many shots were fired and whether more than one shooter was involved.

Panic at the mall

Shoppers described a terrifying scene. One man said his wife was inside the costume store when she heard a burst of loud bangs. She ran with a group of other customers through an emergency exit and made it out the far side of the mall. He said she was safe at home but still badly shaken.

A woman waiting in the parking lot with her son said she suddenly saw a wave of people sprinting and screaming across the lot. Many of them were parents with children. She and her son crouched on the floor of their car until officers arrived. Workers at other stores inside the mall said they heard several gunshots as they were getting ready to close for the night.

Neighboring Suisun City sent officers to help search for the suspect and treat the wounded. The California Highway Patrol handled traffic and helped clear nearby buildings. Suisun City Mayor Alma Hernandez urged residents to stay alert and to avoid passing along rumors that could slow the investigation.

A second store shooting in Michigan

Hours earlier a separate deadly shooting happened inside another Spirit Halloween location in Madison Heights, Michigan, outside Detroit. Police there said a 21-year-old Detroit man was shot and later died at a hospital. The suspect, also 21, was tackled and hurt by bystanders before officers took him into custody. Prosecutors are expected to review charges.

Authorities say there is no sign the two shootings are linked. Fairfield police are asking anyone with information or video from the mall to call the department at 707-428-7600 as the search continues on Halloween morning.