A knife-wielding shoplifter was shot and killed inside a store in the Woodbridge Center shopping mall this afternoon after holding a person hostage, authorities said.

The shooting occurred at about 5 p.m. inside the Hollister store in the Sears section of the mall, The Star Ledger of Newark reported.

The newspaper, citing a source, said the alleged shoplifter was confronted by mall security guards.

That’s when the shoplifter pulled out a knife and held a person hostage.

A Woodbridge police officer, who arrived at the store, shot the suspect dead.

It was not immediately known if the cop was on-duty or not at the time.