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Three people were killed in what police have called a “random shooting” that took place early Tuesday at a convenience store in Yakima, Washington.

The gunman, identified as 21-year-old Jarid Haddock, was tracked down by police after he borrowed a woman’s cell phone and made a “harrowing” call to his mother and confessed to the killings.

As officers closed in, Haddock shot and killed himself behind a warehouse, officials said.

Yakima Police Chief Matt Murray said police received calls around 3:30 a.m. of a man shooting people at a Circle K store.

Upon arrival, officers discovered two people who were shot dead inside while getting food and another who was shot in their car outside. 

No information about the victims has been released.

Haddock then walked across the street to another gas station and began shooting into his own car to get inside, because he had locked himself out, Murray said.

The gunman fled the store in a gray or silver Chrysler sedan, Murray said.

Haddock’s motive for the slayings remains unclear.

“It appears to be a random situation. There was no apparent conflict between the parties,” Murray said in a video shared on the department’s Facebook page. “[Haddock] just walked in and started shooting.”

After police identified Haddock as the gunman, they surrounded his home but he was not there. Murray said that instead, Haddock was at a local Target where he asked to borrow a women’s phone and called his mom.

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The woman overheard the conversation, in which Haddock allegedly said “I killed those people,” and threatened to kill himself, Murray said. The woman was able to get her phone back and called 911 to report his location.

“I listened to that call — it’s pretty harrowing,” Murray said. “I have to really thank her again because she was very courageous in getting us there.”

After the killings, police released surveillance footage of Haddock and warned the community to be on the lookout.

“If seen, call 911 immediately, do not approach. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous. YPD and local agencies are following up on leads,” the department said.

Haddock has a limited criminal history. In March 2020 he was arrested after police saw him in a car that had been reported stolen by a woman who left in running. He tried to flee from officers who pulled him over, according to court documents.. He told law enforcement at the time that he was homeless.

He completed a diversion program, although twice he violated its terms for using methamphetamine or heroin. The charges were dismissed in December 2021.

This year so far has witnessed more mass shootings than days, with 39, according to CNN, and the incident in Yakima is the latest incident of mass violence just this week. 

Eleven people were killed and at least 10 others injured over the weekend when a gunman opened fire on an Asian American community celebrating the Lunar New Year in Monterey Park, just outside Los Angeles. 

The violence in California persisted into Monday when at least seven people were killed in two shootings in Half Moon Bay. Later that day in Oakland, one person was fatally shot and seven others were injured.

On Monday, two students were killed at an Iowa school for at-risk youth while a third person, the school’s founder, was injured. 

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