This morning we're learning more about a gunman who shot and killed 8 people inside a busy shopping mall in Omaha, Nebraska before killing himself.

Five other people were wounded in the shooting.

20-year-old Robert Hawkins had been fired from his job at a fast food restaurant before authorities say he carried a rifle inside Omaha’s West Roads Mall and randomly killed 8 people before killing himself.

A suicide note was found, but authorities still aren't clear on why he choose this mall or this store.

Mall employee Teresa Wheerun says “all I could see was that big gun," with tears in her eyes.

When the shooting started from the 3rd floor balcony, terrified customers and employees down before scrambled for safety.

Chuck Wright saw the shooting and says, “I heard this bang bang bang and I immediately kind of froze."

Some huddled in corners and storerooms until police came.

One of the victims was Jeff Schaffart, who was shot twice before taking cover in a bathroom.

"I feel exceedingly lucky and fortunate to have made it through today and my heart goes out to those that didn't and to the families of those that weren't so lucky," he said.

As this community tries to come to terms with the attack, investigators are searching for a motive.

This was the deadliest shooting in Nebraska in close to 50 years.