Police continue to search for suspect after fatal shooting at Florida mall

(CNN) — Authorities are on the lookout for the individual responsible for a shooting incident that took place on Saturday at a mall in Ocala, Florida. The attack resulted in the death of one person and the injury of another during one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

The Ocala Police Chief, Mike Balken, stated that the shooting appears to be a targeted act of violence. The victim who lost his life has been identified as David Nathaniel Barron, a 40-year-old man who succumbed to gunshot wounds at a common area inside the mall. Meanwhile, a woman who sustained a leg injury is expected to survive.

According to the police, the suspect fled the mall on foot immediately after the shooting. Balken described the suspect as an African American man wearing black pants, a hoodie, and a black mask.

The incident occurred at the Paddock Mall, just two days before Christmas, on a day that was expected to be one of the busiest shopping days of the year. This tragic event further highlights the prevalence of gun violence in the United States, as it infiltrates various aspects of everyday life.

Gun violence has already claimed the lives of more than 42,000 individuals in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Out of these fatalities, over 18,400 were homicides.

As part of the ongoing investigation, the police released several images of a person of interest in the case. The authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information that could help identify the individual, who was seen wearing dark clothes, white sneakers, and a red hat.

Considering the large number of people present at the mall during the shooting, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken acknowledged that there are potentially many witnesses who could provide valuable information to help solve the case.

The Ocala Police Department is requesting anyone with footage of the incident to share it with detectives by contacting the police directly.

The initial call reporting the incident came in around 3:40 p.m., describing multiple shots fired. As a result, the police responded with a heavy presence, treating the situation as an active shooter scenario.

However, upon entering the mall, the authorities discovered that it was not an active shooter situation. Instead, they encountered the victims and recovered the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting.

One witness, Syriah Williams, shared her experience during the incident. She was shopping with her mother at the mall when the shooting occurred. Williams described hearing one shot, followed by a pause, and then three more shots. Chaos ensued, and mall employees directed everyone to run towards the back storage area for safety.

The corporate owner of Paddock Mall, Washington Prime Group, announced that the mall will be closed on Sunday and Monday following the shooting. The Ocala Police Department had previously stated that the parking lot was reopened for individuals to retrieve their vehicles.