KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Police say a man opened fire on a Kansas City Police officer on Bannister Road then drove to Ward Parkway and opened fire there. The first shooting in the 1300 block of E. Bannister Road happened around 3 p.m. The man was pulled over for a routine traffic stop, police say, when the suspect opened fire on the officer. He has been shot in the arm.

Authorities say the suspect is believed to be in his 50s and was wearing a maroon shirt. The suspect fired several times hitting the police car's rear window before fleeing in a red Oldsmobile.

Then, according to police, the suspect drove to Ward Parkway Mall, 8600 Ward Parkway. He entered the Target store around 3:30 p.m. and began shooting.

Three people have been transported to area hospitals, one with critical injuries and the other two with non-critical injuries, officials say.

There has been an unconfirmed report that three more people may be dead.

The suspect is said to have used an AK-47, or possibly a rifle, and may have had another weapon on his side.

There is no word on why the man opened fire.

NBC Action News