The Ocala, Florida mall is shuttered, but locals can still pick up their cars in the parking lot.
Following a mass shooting at a mall in Ocala, Florida on Saturday afternoon, a man was pronounced dead and a woman was injured, according to Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken.
He disclosed that the police arrived with a significant police presence after receiving 911 calls detailing a situation involving a "active shooter" with many gunshots inside the Paddock Mall, CNN reported.
"Officers entered the mall right away and determined that there was no active shooter situation," according to Balken.
Balken stated that one male was found dead from gunshot wounds and another woman suffered a leg injury. The police have classified the shooting as a "targeted act of violence," she added.
He said that it is expected the woman would live after being brought to a hospital.
A Black man with trousers, a black mask and a black sweatshirt is wanted by the police.
The Ocala Police Department also notes that residents can now access their cars in the parking lot, even if the mall is still closed.
When the incident happened, 18-year-old Syriah Williams was at the mall shopping with her mother. They heard one shot, then three more, and chaos ensued.
The workers at the mall told everyone to flee, and Williams was able to get away by using the hallway that led to the back exit and the storage space that they had opened.
After the shooting on Saturday night, WPG, the proprietors of the Paddock Mall, released the following statement:
We find this incident to be really sad. We are thinking of everyone who is involved. The security of our customers, partners, and staff comes first. While the Ocala Police Department looks into this occurrence, we are collaborating closely with them.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been about 42,000 gun-related deaths this year, CNN reported.
Small and large communities across are looking for solutions to stop the violence because state-level attempts to control firearms in states like California, New York, Maryland, and others have been unsuccessful in court.
Just two days before Christmas, which is regarded by analysts as one of the busiest shopping days of the year—second only to Black Friday—the shooting took place at a mall.
0 Comments