Officer killed in shooting at US mall

Police said an officer died today of injuries sustained in shooting at a suburban South Carolina mall, and a suspect is in custody.
Officials say the incident at Richland Mall in Forest Acres, near Columbia, began with a call of a suspicious person just before 8 am Sealy says officers responded and attempted to talk to the person, who fled on foot, running through the Barnes and Noble bookstore and other parts of the mall.
Chief Gene Sealy said that the Officer Greg Alia confronted the individual, there was a struggle, and he was shot.
Police say the suspect who was armed with a handgun and a knife. Sealy says Alia was 32 years old and a seven-year veteran of the department. Sealy says Alia and wife Kathy recently had a baby.

Forest Acres is a residential town virtually surrounded by Columbia. The mall is anchored by a department store, a bookstore and a theatre complex.
About two hours after the report of the shooting, traffic was flowing smoothly, the parking garage was open, and one entrance was closed by yellow crime scene tape.
About half a dozen police cars were at the scene. News reporters were being kept away from the immediate area.