Witnesses tell police that several young men were involved in the disturbance in the middle of the mall. One pulled out a handgun and fired at least one round.
A 19-year-old man who was part of the initial dispute was struck.
DeSpain says: "My understanding is it was a chaotic scene."
The shooting happened on one of the busiest shopping days before Christmas.
The mall remains closed.
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4:05 p.m.
A Madison police officer says that the mall is now secure.
The officer declined to give any further details.
Photos from the scene show several police officers and a number of police vehicles outside the mall.
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3:50 p.m.
The East Towne Mall says it is closed due to an unspecified security issue.
A notice posted on its website says: "The mall is temporarily closed due to a safety concern."
East Towne Mall is an 840,000-square-foot shopping center with 110 specialty retailers, according to its website.
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3:40 p.m.
A 911 dispatcher says shots were fired at the East Towne Mall in Madison, Wisconsin.
The dispatcher says no other information is immediately available about the incident.
She declined to give her name, citing department policy.
