Gunman kills 5 at Macy's store in Washington State

A manhunt operation was conducted in a gunman which is still at large after five people was shot dead in a shopping mall. A gunman opened fire in the makeup department of a Macy's store in a shopping center north of Seattle, killing five people.

The Washington State Patrol said the five were shot on Friday night at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, about 105km north of Seattle.

Sergeant Mark Francis said authorities were searching for a "Hispanic male wearing grey" who was last seen walking towards a highway from the shopping center.

Authorities released a photo of a man they said was the shooter, saying he prowled the mall armed with a rifle.

"Here is the shooter. We believe just one shooter. ... Armed with rifle," Francis tweeted. A manhunt is underway as police work on a few leads.

Washington State Trooper Rick Johnson told CNN they got reports that the suspect was behind some buildings headed to the freeway.

"They're canvassing the area right now, and ... (he) has not been located at this time," Johnson said early Saturday.