Gunfire erupts at Florida mall leaving one dead, multiple injured (Video)
On December 23 while shoppers were busy buying their last-minute Christmas presents only two days before the big day, gunshots rang out at the Paddock Mall in Ocala, Florida. Police in Ocala report that one person has died and more injured as a result of the gunfire. Police added that they believe the shooting was a targeted one – and that their suspect made a successful escape on foot.
Police received the call about the shootings at approximately 3:40 p.m. on Thursday. The mall was evacuated immediately afterwards. The victim of the fatal shooting at the Paddock Mall has been identified by the police as 40-year-old David Nathaniel Barron.
Paddock Mall shopper Makenna Brown was at the food court during the incident and posted to the Ocala Police Department’s Facebook page, saying: “I was there eating in the food court when everything went down. i didn’t see or hear anything, only the gunshots. a man with a gun did stand up in front of us who were against the wall in the food court to help us get out an exit. so thankful for all the officers and people who ran toward the fire to protect others.”
Around 2 a.m. today, police posted images of their “person of interest” in the shooting and asked the public to please come forward with any other available pictures or videos they may have.
We are asking anyone who was at the Paddock Mall who may have video recorded any part of the shooting using their phone to please share it with our detectives. You can send videos to MediaRelations@ocalapd.org or send the video to 352-656-6137 ~ ~ Ocala Police Department
Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said that, “This is the worst thing we can imagine right now at this time of the year. Somebody has suffered a loss in their family. It’s a horrible time of year for this to ever happen. It’s especially sad during the holidays.”
For more on the Paddock Mall shooting, see the video below.
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(Source: Ocala Police Department)
(Cover photo of Paddock Mall Shooting Scene, Image credit: Twitter)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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