Deadly shooting at Ocala Mall leaves 1 dead, others injured
A shooting at the Paddock Mall in Ocala, Florida has left one person dead and others injured, according to the Ocala Police Department.
The incident, which occurred just two days before Christmas Day, started at around 3:40 p.m. on Saturday with reports of an “active shooting situation” at the mall. However, police later confirmed that it was not an active shooter situation but appeared to be a targeted shooting in a “common area” inside the mall.
The victim has been identified as 40-year-old David Nathaniel Barron, who was found dead at the scene. A woman also sustained a gunshot wound to her leg and was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Several others were injured during the chaotic aftermath of the shooting.
A press conference held on Saturday evening revealed that the suspected shooter, described as a Black male wearing a black hoodie, black pants, and a black mask, had fled the scene. Police have since released a photo collage of a “person of interest” and are seeking the public’s help in identifying him.
The mall remains closed following the incident, and it is unclear whether it will reopen on Sunday. Police have asked anyone with information, photos, or videos related to the shooting to come forward and assist with the investigation.
The motive for the shooting is still under investigation, and authorities are working to bring the perpetrator to justice. Ocala, located about an hour and a half north of Orlando, is reeling from the tragic event just days before the holiday season.