The shooting Monday happened so quickly that no one had time to react, Dean said. An employee working that night saw the gunman coming and told everyone to run out the back entrance. Before anyone had any time to take cover, the gunman opened fire inside the store and then turned to the next store, he said.

Some customers in the store survived, but three did not. Dean said his deepest condolences go the families of those killed and injured. He feels blessed, however, that none of his employees was hurt.

Although Cabin Fever will be closed for a week, Dean said his other store in the mall, Tabula Rasa, was open Wednesday, and he expected most businesses to be reopened by today.

Mall owners praised the actions of police, including the off-duty Ogden police officer, Ken Hammond, who first confronted the gunman.

"That level of response saved numerous lives," Bard said. "It could have been a lot worse."

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Contributing: Doug Smeath

E-mail: preavy@desnews.com