In this screengrab from video provided by WKMG/ClickOrlando, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken speaks during a news conference following a fatal shooting in a common area at Paddock Mall in Ocala, Fla., located about 80 miles northwest of Orlando, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. WKMG/ClickOrlando via AP
By Associated Press
December 24, 2023 | 6:21 PM
Tragedy struck Paddock Mall in Ocala, Florida, on December 23, 2023, when one man was fatally shot and another woman was injured. Authorities are on the hunt for the suspect, offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to his arrest. The suspect fled the scene, leaving Ocala Police to investigate, while the mall will remain closed for Christmas Eve.
Police have appealed to the public for assistance in the investigation, asking for anyone who was at the scene to submit mobile phone video footage. They are also urging a person who took the suspect’s hat from the crime scene to turn it over to investigators, as it is believed to have valuable DNA evidence. In addition, mall officials are cooperating with law enforcement in the probe of the shooting event.
