Sunday evening, a night out at the Greenwood Park Mall in Indiana, 14 miles south of Indianapolis. Children and adults are savoring hamburgers and fries at the food court.

A man, carrying a rifle, opens fire on the food court and hits five people, including a 12-year-old girl. 

Three people lost their lives and two were injured. The young girl is in stable condition with minor injuries.

The shooter was gunned down by a 22-year-old “Good Samaritan”  who was legally carrying a firearm. 

The shooter has not been identified and the motive is not yet known. Police are investigating. 

Police found a backpack in a bathroom near the food court. It was taken into evidence. 

“The real hero of the day is the citizen that was lawfully carrying a firearm in that food court and was able to stop the shooter almost as soon as he began,” Greenwood Police Department Chief Jim Ison said.

The Indiana mass shooting comes so soon after Americans have barely lifted their heads to breathe following the multiple shootings that occurred over the July 4th weekend,  The US has been shattered by gunfire in schools, malls, churches, parades and supermarkets for years. Many violent gunfire incidents go unreported. The toll is high.

“We are sickened by yet another type of incident like this in our country,” Indianapolis Assistant Chief of Police Chris Bailey said.

Greenwood is a south suburb of Indianapolis with a population of about 60,000. Mayor Mark Myers asked for “prayers to the victims and our first responders.”

So many prayers, so little action.