Officer-involved shooting reported at South Carolina mall

A South Carolina police officer was fatally shot at a mall on Wednesday after a struggle with a knife-wielding gunman, a law enforcement official said.

The shooting was reported Wednesday morning at Richland Mall in Forest Acres, near Columbia.

Alia was a seven-year veteran of the Forest Acres Police Department.

The 32-year-old officer, along with two other cops, had responded to the Richland Mall after a bank employee called in to report a suspicious person sitting in a van.

Alia is survived by his wife, Cassie, and their infant son Sal.

News 19’s Mary Sturgill says the incident is over and the scene is contained, but no additional details have been made available yet.

“He was an outstanding young man, he was an outstanding police officer”, Sealy said.

About half a dozen police cars were at the scene. A nearby high school was locked down briefly.

Cowan says that during the investigation, shots were fired. Cowan says one person has been taken to a Columbia hospital for treatment.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia Police Department and SLED are assisting in the investigation.

A Columbia police spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to a message.

Several stores inside the mall were allowed to open on schedule.

During a Wednesday afternoon news conference, Forest Acres Police Chief Gene Sealy identified the fallen officer as Greg Alia, 32.