OCALA, Fla. – Images shared early Sunday by the Ocala Police Department show who investigators say is a person of interest in a shooting at the Paddock Mall that left a man dead and a woman injured the day prior. News 6 is working to learn why Ocala police consider the individual a person of interest.
Initially described as an “active shooter situation,” officers who responded to the mall around 3:40 p.m. Saturday found that while there was no active shooter, a shooting did still occur inside of the building, according to a news release. A man who was found shot to death in a common area has since been identified by police as David Nathaniel Barron, 40, and the woman who was shot was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, the release states.
The Ocala Police Department extends our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and we are committed to bringing the perpetrator to justice.
Dec. 23, 2023 | Police Identify Victim of Paddock Mall Shooting (excerpt)
The shooter ran away and is still at large, police said, adding investigators believe the incident may have been targeted.
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Occurring two days before Christmas, a busy time for holiday shopping, “chaos erupted” at the mall when shots were fired; that’s what we heard from Syriah Williams, a witness at the scene who spoke with News 6 and recorded video on her cellphone after the shooting began.
Williams said that Bath & Body Works employees opened a back door to help people escape.
The mall was evacuated and closed as investigators worked the scene Saturday night, eventually opening the parking lots back up to allow people to retrieve their vehicles. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Ocala Fire Rescue, Marion County Fire Rescue and Florida Highway Patrol also responded to the shooting, according to the release.
Ocala police urge anyone who recognizes the person of interest to call 352-369-7000 or Crime Stoppers at 352-368-7867/**TIPS to remain anonymous. Additionally, anyone who recorded cellphone video at the scene is encouraged to send the footage to mediarelations@ocalapd.org or 352-656-6137.
This is a person of interest in the deadly Paddock Mall shooting.
If you recognize this person, please call 352-369-7000 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Marion County by calling 352-368-STOP (7867) or **TIPS. Tips can also be submitted to https://t.co/TZBhTyKhkL. pic.twitter.com/c1x2qW5dCH
— Ocala Police (@ocalapd) December 24, 2023
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