Police seek suspect in fatal Florida mall shooting

Police named a suspect Sunday in a shooting that killed one man and injured a woman at a central Florida mall that was crowded with holiday shoppers two days before Christmas.

The Ocala Police Department identified the suspect as Albert James Shell Jr., 39. According to law enforcement, he will be charged with premeditated first-degree murder and attempted premeditated first-degree murder.

Law enforcement responded to reports of shots fired inside the Paddock Mall in Ocala, about 80 miles from Orlando, at around 3:40 p.m. Saturday, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken told reporters at a briefing.

Officers arrived with a "heavy police presence" at the mall, Balken said, but discovered this was "not what we would consider an active shooter" situation. Police found the suspect in the mall, but he fled from the scene on foot. A firearm was recovered.

Authorities believe the shooting was a "targeted act of violence," Balken said. The victim was later identified as David Nathaniel Barron, 40.

A woman was shot in the leg and is expected to survive her injuries after she was taken to a local hospital for treatment, Balken said. Several other shoppers also suffered injuries, including a broken arm.

"It's the worst thing we can imagine right now at this time of the year," Balken said.

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Police locked down the mall for 12 hours following the shooting and advised shoppers to stay away from the area.

Contributing: Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her on email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.