A Georgia mall remains on lockdown as police search for one person in relation to an earlier shooting, with two others already in police custody.
One person was injured in the shooting at the Augusta Mall Tuesday, which police said stemmed from a “fight.”
Police are going store-to-store to search for the person, although their relation to the shooting is still unknown.
“In total, one person has been shot. Deputies are systematically clearing each store to check for anyone who may still be hiding or could be experiencing a medical emergency. This process will take some time, so we appreciate your patience and cooperation in advance,” the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office told The Independent in a statement.
The health status of any potential victims remained uncertain Tuesday afternoon, law enforcement said.
The mall has been placed on lockdown. It remains closed to the public.
“Please avoid this are- for your safety and as you could interfere with the work of the deputies,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a previous Facebook post.
The sheriff’s office reportedly told WRDW that the incident was “more of a fight,” and not a mass shooting incident.
The Richmond Marshal’s Office, as well as the Criminal Investigations Division, SWAT Team, and Crime Suppression Team, along with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, were involved in the operation.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 706-821-1080.
Tuesday’s shooting is the third at the mall in the past two years. On July 4, 2024, a person opened fire inside the Snipes store, which sells streetwear, sportswear, and sneakers. One man was injured in that incident, and the shooting appeared to stem from an altercation rather than being random.
Just a few months prior, on April 28, 2024, an incident at Dillard’s inside the mall also resulted in one injury.
