In a chilling pre-Christmas incident, a man was killed and a woman injured during what authorities call a "targeted" shooting spree at a Florida shopping mall. Ocala Police Department has issued an arrest warrant for 39-year-old Alber Shell Jr., who remains at large, with a $5,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Announced on social media, the warrant charges Shell with premeditated first-degree murder and attempted murder, as detailed by CBS News Miami.
The deadly attack occurred at Paddock Mall on a busy shopping day, leaving a man dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Lying in wait for his victim, Shell, dressed in a hooded sweatshirt and masked, also shot a woman in the leg, who is expected to recover following hospital treatment. Fleeing the scene, he discarded the firearm, which was then left behind, as CTV News reports. The shooting also caused collateral injuries among the crowd, including one individual's broken arm and another's chest pain – adding to the day's trauma.
Amidst the chaos, an onlooker inadvertently became involved in the investigation after taking the suspect's hat, potentially a key piece of evidence, from the crime scene. Ocala Police took to social media, imploring them to "do the right thing and come forward immediately." Police Chief Mike Balken emphasized, "That hat may contain valuable DNA evidence, and we need it back," according to a statement obtained by CBS News Miami.
Ocala Police have appealed to the public's sense of community, requesting the submission of mobile phone footage that could shed light on the shooting's terrifying moments. The management company of the mall, WPG, expressed their heartbreak over the incident stating, "Our thoughts are with all those involved," and reassured that guest, retailer, and employee safety remains the highest priority. Shoppers, such as Calvin and Diana Amos who spoke to the Ocala Star-Banner, recount a harrowing and swift evacuation, leaving the holiday cheer behind for survival's sake.
With the suspect still on the run and the community reeling from the violence, the Ocala Police Department continues its manhunt. The Paddock Mall, typically bustling with holiday shoppers, was shuttered the following day, silent except for the ongoing investigation, as law enforcement works to piece together how a festive afternoon descended into targeted terror.
