The American police announced that several people were shot at a shopping center in the city of Buffalo, New York, indicating that they managed to arrest the shooter.

Media outlets reported that at least 8 people were killed in the shooting incident.

The state governor, Kathy Hochul, wrote on her Twitter account that she is "closely monitoring the shooting incident at a shopping center in Buffalo," her hometown. She said that state officials offered assistance to local authorities.

Officials were not allowed to speak publicly about the matter as police officials and the spokesperson for the store chain did not immediately respond to messages from the Associated Press requesting comment.

One official who wished to remain anonymous said the gunman entered the supermarket with a rifle and opened fire.

The official said investigators believe the man may have been live streaming the shooting and are looking into whether he posted a statement online.

The official warned that the investigation is in its early stages and that authorities have not yet determined a clear motive, but they are investigating whether the shooting was racially motivated.

The supermarket is located in a predominantly Black neighborhood, about 3 miles (5 kilometers) north of downtown Buffalo.

The surrounding area is primarily residential, with a Family Dollar store and a fire station near the store.

On the other hand, eyewitnesses said the gunman was wearing military clothes and protective vests, according to an official, as both Braden Kiebart and Shane Hill, both in their twenties, rushed to the parking lot while the shooter was leaving.

They described him as a white man in his late teens or early twenties wearing camo, a black helmet, and what appeared to be a rifle.

Adding, "He was standing there with the rifle on his chin, we couldn’t believe what the hell was going on?, wondering why this kid had a gun to his face?"

He kneeled down, took off his helmet, dropped his rifle, and was confronted by the police."

The police have closed the building, lined up citizens who were watching the event, and surrounded the entire parking lot.

Meanwhile, Mayor Byron Brown and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz were at the scene late Saturday afternoon, gathering in a parking lot across the street from the Tops store and are expected to address the media.

Governor Kathy Hochul tweeted that she is "closely monitoring the grocery store shooting in Buffalo," her hometown.

She said state officials offered help to local authorities.

Meanwhile, the Erie County Mayor’s office said on social media that it has ordered all available personnel to assist the Buffalo police.

It is worth mentioning that the shooting came just over a year after the March 2021 attack on the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, which resulted in the death of 10 people.

Investigators have not disclosed any information about why they believe the man accused in the attack targeted the supermarket.