CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- A gunman who shot and killed five women in a clothing store at a suburban Chicago strip mall Saturday remains at large, police said.
Police investigate the scene of a shooting at the Brookside shopping center in Tinley Park, Illinois.
The motive for the shooting at the Lane Bryant store was a robbery that "at some point went rather poorly," said Tinley Park police Sgt. T.J. Grady.
All of the victims -- ranging in age from 22 to 37 -- were found in a back room of the store, he said. Their identities were not released.
"This is a very serious and sensitive investigation," Tinley Park Police Chief Michael O'Connell said Saturday evening.
At least one of the victims was a Lane Bryant employee, O'Connell said. The store did not have a security camera, he added.
A 911 call reporting the shooting came in at 10:44 a.m., Grady told reporters.
The shopping center was locked down while stores were thoroughly searched. It was reopened after police determined the gunman had left the area. Watch police describe the crime scene »
Shoppers described a tense situation after the shooting.
"I was so scared I couldn't think," said Selena Kujawa, who was in a Target store across from the Lane Bryant store, according to The Associated Press.
She and other customers watched as police checked aisles with weapons drawn, the AP reported. There was a similar scene in a pet supply store nearby.
"Six police entered the store with their hands on their gun holsters," Tracy Caccavella told the AP.
The gunman was described as an African-American man, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing between 230 and 260 pounds, Grady said. He was wearing a waist-length black winter coat, a black cap and dark jeans.
Authorities believe there was only one shooter, Grady said. Helicopters helped in the search for the gunman, who is no longer believed to be in the immediate area, he said.
Authorities were downloading surveillance video from businesses within a mile and a half of the Lane Bryant store to see if any cameras captured the gunman.
Police appealed to the public for help, urging anyone with information to contact police at 708-444-5368.
The Chicago Tribune reported the shopping center is just south of Interstate 80 and contains a Super Target, a Kohl's clothing store and several restaurants. E-mail to a friend
Journalist Bill Kirkos contributed to this report.
Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
Location of Tinley Park within the Chicago metropolitan area.
Five women are reported dead after a shooting at a strip mall in suburban Chicago, Illinois, and police are searching for the perpetrator, who they say fled the scene. According to police, the shooting may have been part of a botched robbery.

The shooting took place at a  clothing store in , a suburb of Chicago. Tinley Park police Sgt. T.J. Grady says a 911 call reported the shooting at 10:44 a.m. When police arrived, they found all five victims lying in a back room of the store.

Other stores in the strip mall, including a , were temporarily locked down as police officers — armed with pistols and rifles — searched for the gunman.

"Every store was immediately canvassed and a search by air too has given us every indication that the offender has left the scene," Grady said.

Selena Kujawa, who was inside the Target with her 5-year old son when police entered, said, "I was so scared I couldn't think."

Grady did not identify the names of the victims, as their families are still in the process of being notified. However, the victims have now been identified as ranging between ages 22 and 37, and at least one is believed to be a store employee. 

He described the shooter as an  man, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing between 230 and 260 pounds. He was reportedly wearing a black coat, a knit cap, and dark jeans. Grady believes the shooter is no longer in the immediate area. 

Tinley Park police chief Mike O'Connell said that more information would be made available Sunday afternoon, when forensic exams have been completed. 

"This is a very serious and sensitive investigation," O'Connell said.

Illinois senator and Chicago resident Barack Obama released the following statement addressing the shootings: "I was deeply saddened to learn about the shooting in Tinley Park, and my heart goes out to the victims' families. This kind of violence is unacceptable — not just in a shopping center where we're supposed to feel safe, but wherever it occurs. And as the facts become clear, I hope the authorities find and prosecute whoever is responsible for this tragedy."