Gunshots rang out in the Plaza West Shopping Center parking lot around 1 a.m. Thursday, striking a car and sending Raleigh police into an hours-long investigation as much of the south side of the center was taped off. Officers remained on scene into the morning, and police said no injuries were reported.
According to WRAL, officers found a vehicle with clear bullet damage along with several shell casings in the lot near the intersection of Buck Jones Road and Jones Franklin Road. The outlet also noted a partially opened box, with packing peanuts spilled across the asphalt near where investigators had placed evidence markers.
Plaza West sits at the busy Buck Jones and Jones Franklin junction and is anchored by a Harris Teeter at 5563 Western Boulevard, a setup that has long turned the center into a convenient stop for evening shoppers and commuters, The News & Observer reported. The strip is lined with small retailers and quick-serve restaurants that keep the parking lot active well after dark.
Retail Incidents Have Heightened Local Concern
The Plaza West gunfire follows a run of retail-area incidents in Raleigh this month, including a June 19 shooting at Capital Crossing that briefly disrupted business, as detailed in night of gunfire at Capital Crossing. Local outlets also covered an April shooting at Triangle Town Center that wounded multiple people and led some malls to boost security measures, according to Spectrum News.
Investigators Processing Evidence
Investigators told WRAL they had limited information about a possible suspect and had not announced any arrests as detectives documented the damaged vehicle and collected shell casings. Officers canvassed nearby businesses for surveillance video and interviewed potential witnesses while working through the evidence markers in the lot.
Raleigh police say the investigation is ongoing and that more details will be released as they become available. Anyone with information or video related to the shooting is urged to contact Raleigh police.
