Shooting at Augusta Mall Sunday afternoon
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – One person was injured after a shooting at the Augusta Mall.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office tells us they responded to a call of shots fired at Dillard’s just before 2:00 pm Sunday afternoon.
Investigators say that when they arrived, they learned that a suspect had left the area before law enforcement arrived. We spoke with one witness who was in the food court at the time of the incident and told us everyone went running when they heard the gunfire.
“All of a sudden, we heard it; it just sounded like somebody was popping a bag. You know, just like a pop, pop, pop sound,” said Kristina Maldonado, a witness. “And all of sudden, you could just see tons of people come running down towards us. And we started freaking out you looking going what’s going on, and you could see just people running. And they you jeer somebody screaming there’s been a shooting, you know somebody shooting. And people were just rushing out that food court.”
Deputies later learned the victim had driven themselves to a local hospital for treatment.
The mall property was evacuated and was closed for the reminder Sunday. Another witness we spoke with said they were stuck inside a store with no information on what happened.
“So, she’s like, all right, the protocol is everybody goes into the back room,” said Beau Martin, a witness. “Nobody can leave. Everybody goes into the back room. So, we’re back there, and all of us are trembling. Try to figure out what was going on, and it was just. Oh my God, it was traumatizing, seriously. When you have to worry about leaving your house, you don’t feel safe in public anymore. What has this world come to.”
“When you heat shooting in a movie, and you’re just running out, you know, see people running. That’s exactly what you know happened,” said Maldonado.
The mall is set to reopen with regular business hours on Monday.
Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying the two people pictured below. They are now wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting incident. If you have any information, you’re asked to contact Richmond Count Investigators at 706-821-1080
The investigation is still ongoing. We will keep you updated on the investigation.
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