Twitter is becoming THE source for news in breaking stories. In many cases, major news outlets get their news from Tweets and this has never been more apparent than in today’s coverage of the fatal mall shooting in Maryland.

Three people have died and two others were injured after someone armed with a gun opened fire at the Mall in Columbia in suburban Baltimore on Saturday.

The shooter is reported to be among the dead.

According to reports a 911 call was placed at around 11:15 a.m. to report a shooting at the mall. When police arrived at the mall, they found three people, dead, including one person who was near the gun and ammunition allegedly used in the shooting. Police believe this person is the shooter, although the identities of the dead have been released pending notification to next of kin.

The Howard County Police Department’s Twitter Updates have been riveting.

Three people confirmed dead at Columbia Mall. Victims unknown at this time.

— Howard County Police (@HCPDNews) January 25, 2014

One subject dead is suspected shooter. No information about other victims yet.

— Howard County Police (@HCPDNews) January 25, 2014

Two victims with minor injuries that were NOT directly related to the shooting were transported to HCGH. No other injuries reported.

— Howard County Police (@HCPDNews) January 25, 2014

There is NO confirmed motive in the shooting at this time.

— Howard County Police (@HCPDNews) January 25, 2014

#HoCoPolice investigators say gun found near suspected shooter at #ColumbiaMall was a shotgun.

— Howard County Police (@HCPDNews) January 25, 2014

Motive of shooting is unknown. Not determined to be domestic or any other cause at this time. Any other reports are complete speculation.

— Howard County Police (@HCPDNews) January 25, 2014

At a news conference, Howard County Police Chief William J. McMahon said there was only one shooter.

“We don’t know a motive yet,” McMahon said. “We are very confident that it was a single shooter, and there was not another shooter in the mall.”

Image via Twitter