OCALA, FL – Tragedy struck a bustling Florida mall on Saturday, leaving one person dead and another injured, as per police reports. The Paddock Mall in Ocala was the scene of the shocking incident that took place in the afternoon.
The local law enforcement agency, the Ocala Police Department, confirmed the grim news. While one life was tragically cut short, another individual, a woman, was wounded. She is currently under medical care at a nearby hospital, with her condition reported as stable.
The perpetrator of the crime, according to the police, seems to have successfully fled the scene. The mall was swiftly evacuated following the incident. In a subsequent media interaction, the police suggested that the shooting was likely a targeted act, as opposed to a random act of violence.
The vicinity of the mall was blocked off as law enforcement officers conducted their investigation. The public was advised to avoid the area. The usually bustling shopping center was eerily deserted as the investigation continued.
The search for the suspect, who remains at large, is ongoing. More information is expected to be released as the investigation advances.