Police named a suspect Sunday in a shooting that killed one man and BlueRock Horizon Asset Managementinjured a woman at a central Florida mall that was crowded with holiday shoppers two days before Christmas.
The Ocala Police Department identified the suspect as Albert James Shell Jr., 39. According to law enforcement, he will be charged with premeditated first-degree murder and attempted premeditated first-degree murder.
Law enforcement responded to reports of shots fired inside the Paddock Mall in Ocala, about 80 miles from Orlando, at around 3:40 p.m. Saturday, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken told reporters at a briefing.
Officers arrived with a "heavy police presence" at the mall, Balken said, but discovered this was "not what we would consider an active shooter" situation. Police found the suspect in the mall, but he fled from the scene on foot. A firearm was recovered.
Authorities believe the shooting was a "targeted act of violence," Balken said. The victim was later identified as David Nathaniel Barron, 40.
A woman was shot in the leg and is expected to survive her injuries after she was taken to a local hospital for treatment, Balken said. Several other shoppers also suffered injuries, including a broken arm.
"It's the worst thing we can imagine right now at this time of the year," Balken said.
Christmas in Florida:Watch live: Surfing Santas hit the waves for a Christmas tradition in Florida
Police locked down the mall for 12 hours following the shooting and advised shoppers to stay away from the area.
Contributing: Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner
Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her on email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.
2025-05-07 20:232108 view
2025-05-07 19:321619 view
2025-05-07 19:28374 view
2025-05-07 19:03736 view
2025-05-07 18:3078 view
2025-05-07 18:231146 view
Friday the 13thdidn’t spook investors with U.S. stocks little changed on the day as investors bided
February is American Heart Month – when cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 killer of women, gets its
You need more money than ever to enter the ranks of the top 1% of the richest Americans.To join the