Fugitive Albert J. Shell Jr. arrested for Christmas Paddock Mall shooting murder
In the early morning hours of Monday, January 8, the Ocala Police Department shared the news that they, along with U.S. Federal Marshalls Service, made the arrest they’d been working toward since the Christmas 2023 holidays. After offering reward upon reward – the last one being $20,000 – police finally arrested 39-year-old Albert Shell Jr., the suspected Paddock Mall shooting murderer.
On December 23, 2023, while shoppers were busy buying last-minute Christmas presents, gunshots rang out inside the Paddock Mall in Ocala, Florida. The victim of the fatal shooting – a shooting which police described as “targeted” – was identified as 40-year-old David Nathaniel Barron. Albert J. Shell Jr. successfully made his getaway from the mall on foot and police have been searching for him ever since he was identified as the suspected shooter on Christmas Day.
Another woman inside the mall at the time suffered a gunshot wound to her leg.
Today, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said his officers caught up with Shell around 1 a.m. this morning in the Florida Highland area, about 20 miles southwest of Ocala, and took him into custody following a two-hour standoff. Ocala is about 80 miles northwest of Orlando.
Related, see:
Breaking! Reward leading to arrest of Paddock Mall shooter increased again, now $20,000 ~ Ace News Today
And regarding that $20,000 reward offered for Shell’s arrest, WESH quoted Balken as saying:
“I am confident that will be paid out. We received over 100 tips. Dozens and dozens of tips that helped bring this case to a resolution.“
Police have been searching for Shell Jr. on criminal charges of premeditated first-degree murder and attempted premeditated first-degree murder. You can check out the final moments of Shell’s arrest on video, below, and on the Ocala Police Department’s Facebook page.
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Also check out the Ocala Police Department’s Monday morning press conference regarding the arrest, available below.
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Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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