Muristek
Columbia (South Carolina), April 17
The Police have arrested a 22-year-old male in connection with a shooting at a busy shopping mall in South Carolina's capital on Saturday that left 14 people injured.
Columbia Police Chief WH "Skip" Holbrook said one of the three people initially detained by law enforcement as a person of interest, remains in police custody and is expected to be charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol.
It is not immediately known if the suspect has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Holbrook said in a news release on Saturday night that 14 people were injured ranging in ages from 15 to 73-year-olds.
Nine people were shot and the other five people suffered injuries while attempting to flee the mall for safety, police said.
The 73-year-old victim is the only person who continues to receive medical treatment, according to police. All the other victims have been treated and released or will be released shortly, the news release said. No fatalities were reported.
Daniel Johnson said he and his family were visiting from Alabama and were eating in the food court when they first heard shots ring out and started seeing people running.
Johnson said people were screaming for their children and spouses, knocking over tables in the food court as they fled.
"Everybody was trying to get outside," Johnson said. "When I was coming out, you could see baby strollers turned over, people's phones and left keys. It was kind of a hectic situation." Johnson said he gathered his wife, daughter and son and began heading towards the exit after letting the crowd clear out for a bit.
"My biggest thing was — and not to sound selfish —to make sure that our family was okay and to get them out safely because this is not something that we love to do for Easter weekend," he said.
Heavy police presence continued in the area hours after the shooting, though officers began letting more traffic through the streets surrounding the shopping centres and strip malls that are usually packed on weekends.
Officers were also stationed outside a nearby hotel designated as a reunification area for people at the scene of the shooting and their families.
Workers from a couple of stores remained clustered in the mostly empty parking lot on Saturday evening, waiting for the police to let them back inside to retrieve their car keys and personal belongings so they could leave.
They said they did not hear or see anything during the shooting but followed the mall's alert system and were evacuated by police shortly after. They declined to give their names, citing company policies.
"Today's isolated, senseless act of violence is extremely upsetting and our thoughts are with everyone impacted," Columbiana Centre said in a statement. "We are grateful for the quick response and continued support of our security team and our partners in law enforcement."
The shooting is the latest in a rash of shootings at or near malls across the country.