Shoplifter Shot To Death At Woodbridge Center Mall

It was a quiet morning at the Woodbridge Center shopping mall after a night of excitment and moments of drama.

The Patch of Woodbridge reports it was shopping as usual at the mall as law enforcement continued their investigation into last night's shooting.

They Authorities say a man suspected of shoplifting and armed with a knife was shot and killed by a police officer inside a store at the Woodbridge Center shopping mall after taking a woman hostage. Their names have still not been released.

James O'Neill, a spokesman for the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, says the man was confronted by mall security in a Hollister clothing store about 5 p.m. Thursday because they suspected him of shoplifting.

O'Neill says the man then pulled out a knife,  held it to another shopper's throat and headed toward the Sears store.

A uniformed police officer working at the mall was called and confronted the man. When the man refused several police orders to drop the knife, O'Neill says the officer shot him.

The hostage was not seriously injured.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at 732-745-3300.

The Associated Press contributed to this report