1:34
- ABC News
- December 27, 2023
Florida mall shooting: Police hunt for suspect
One person was killed in the shooting during the holiday shopping rush.
Video by Jessie DiMartino, Cristina Corujo
1:34
The slain victim, 40-year-old David Nathaniel Barron, was found dead in a common area of the mall when police arrived, authorities said.
He is believed to have been the target, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/david-barron-ht-jef-231225_1703599959712_hpEmbed_4x5_384.jpg\")
A woman was shot and injured and taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said. Other injuries stemming from the incident included chest pains and a broken arm, Balken said.
Police over the weekend said they were searching for a man who took the suspect's red hat from the mall.
\"That hat may contain valuable DNA evidence,\" police said. \"If you do not return the hat within the next few hours, we will release your picture ... and you will be arrested with a felony charge of tampering with evidence.\"
On Wednesday, police said the man who took the hat had \"been identified and is cooperating.\"
The man who took the red hat has been identified and is cooperating with us. We now have the hat in our possession. We are continuing our ongoing search for Albert Shell Jr. We appreciate you all for sharing our messages.
— Ocala Police (@ocalapd) December 27, 2023
The mall, which was packed with shoppers ahead of the holiday, was evacuated after the gunfire broke out on Saturday.
\"This is the worst thing we can imagine right now at this time of the year,\" Balken said. \"Somebody has suffered a loss in their family. It's a horrible time of year for this to happen ever. It's especially sad during the holidays.\"
Syriah Williams, 18, told ABC News she was shopping at Bath & Body Works with her mother when she heard several shots ring out and \"chaos erupted.\"
\"The employees opened the back storage area and told everyone to run,\" said Williams, who took cover behind the counters at the store.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/paddock-mall-shooting-scene-02-usa-jef-231226_1703599152345_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Ocala Gazette owner Jennifer Hunt Murty told ABC News Radio she was volunteering at a gift-wrapping station when gunfire erupted about 10 feet away from her.
\"We dropped to the ground,\" she said. \"I texted the police chief and said active shooter in the mall, and he responded right away.\"
She said she texted the chief where the injured victims were so medics could get to them, and after it seemed safe began interviewing people and taking photos.
\"You never know how you're going to react in those situations, but I went to work,\" she said.
Police recovered a gun from the scene believed to have been used in the shooting, Balken said.
ABC News' Layla Ferris contributed to this report.
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