One man has been killed and multiple others injured in a shooting at a mall in Ocala, Florida – with the suspect still at large.
The shooting broke out just before 3.40pm on Saturday afternoon at Paddock Mall, police said at a press conference on Saturday evening.
Authorities said they believe the shooting was “a targeted act of violence” and that the person killed – a man who has not been named – was the target.
The suspect was described as a Black male wearing all-black attire with a mask partially covering his face, with police adding that he “fled the mall being undetected”.
As well as the victim killed, a woman suffered a gunshot wound to her leg and is being treated at the hospital.
Police added that multiple others were injured though the exact number and their conditions are not currently clear. None of the victims’ names were released.
A firearm was recovered from the scene. The mall will be shut down for at least the next 12 hours, and police urged all shoppers who may have witnessed the shooting to come forward to provide information.
“The worst thing we can imagine this time of the year,” the officer said.
Earlier, Ocala Police said in a post on X that officers were “responding to an active shooting situation that occurred at the Paddock Mall”.
“There is a heavy police presence on scene and we will provide more information as it becomes available. Please avoid the area at this time,” the statement read.
A SWAT Team, ambulances, fire services and police cars were seen arriving at the scene, according to Ocala Star-Banner.
Ten minutes later, police said that the shooting was no longer active and that the “suspect is believed to have fled”.
“There is no longer an active shooting situation. There are multiple people injured. The suspect is believed to have fled. The mall is being evacuated at this time. Please avoid the area as police investigate,” the post read.
The mall is located at 3100 SW College Road.
The Independent has reached out to Ocala Police.
