LANCASTER, Pa. — Update, 1 p.m. (Oct. 18): Lancaster Police on Monday issued a statement updating the investigation of Sunday afternoon's shooting at Park City Mall.
One suspect allegedly involved in the incident is in police custody, but is hospitalized for treatment of a gunshot wound sustained in the incident, police said. He is awaiting the formal filing of charges, according to police.
Park City Mall re-opened Monday.
According to police, based on the initial investigation, the following timeline of events occurred:
- There was an initial physical altercation between two men who know one another.
- At least one of the men was carrying a concealed firearm, and a struggle ensued for the gun.
- Other subjects also joined in the altercation.
- Gunshots were fired by the armed man, striking one of the participants in the altercation.
- The armed man was later identified as a 16-year-old Lancaster City resident.
- Another subject joined the struggle for the firearm, and another gunshot was fired.
- An uninvolved bystander was in a nearby store and heard the first set of gunshots. This bystander was armed with their own, legally possessed firearm.
- The armed bystander then engaged the subjects fighting over the gun and fired shots, striking one of them.
- The struggle ended and the bystander waited at the scene until officers from the Lancaster City Police and Park City Security arrived and took control of the scene.
- The bystander was interviewed and released.
- The District Attorney will be responsible for determining if the actions of the bystander were lawful and justified, upon the completion of the investigation.
- The original armed suspect who was injured in the shooting has been hospitalized and is in police custody at this time, awaiting the filing of formal charges.
- Detective Stan Roache is the lead detective on the investigation and has been in consultation with the District Attorney’s Office for guidance on the appropriate charges to be filed.
- Two of the other men were involved in the altercation or the struggle for the firearm who also suffered gunshot injuries.
- A fourth shooting victim was a woman who was walking through the mall with her family. She was struck in the arm when the first shots were fired.
- All of the injuries are considered non-life threatening.
- Two of the shooting victims have been released from the hospital.
- The investigation is continuing as investigators piece together video footage from many different sources to get a better understanding of what happened.
- The investigation will also focus on the events that preceded the initial altercation and what led to the shooting.
- Based on evidence located at the scene and other information, it appears that approximately six gunshots were fired in this incident from two firearms, one being the original armed suspect’s firearm, and the second being the firearm possessed by the bystander.
- Both firearms were recovered at the scene by police.
Anyone with information please call the Lancaster City Bureau of Police at 717 735-3301.
Police said they will issue further updates once formal charges are filed.
Previous Coverage
Update (8:25 p.m.): Park City Center is now closed until Monday after law enforcement officials say four people were shot at the Lancaster mall around 2:25 p.m. on Sunday.
Police confirm that one of the subjects in an altercation between several men was armed with a handgun, and multiple shots were fired in the mall's JC Penny wing.
Three men and a woman were treated for gunshot wounds, all considered non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
Police also say two women suffered minor injuries while trying to run away.
Investigators are collecting surveillance video and footage that people at the mall took, along with interviewing witnesses and employees.
Officials are still working to determine what caused the incident, and anyone with information is asked to call 717 735-3301.
Update (6:55 p.m.): According to Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams, "Lancaster City Bureau Police have confirmed a shooting at the Park City Mall in Lancaster ... non-life threatening injuries have been reported."
Several eyewitnesses told FOX43 they saw two men fighting before the shooting began. Video posted on social media also shows a fight unfolding prior to the shooting.
Most shoppers and employees ran out of the mall or hid in the back of stores.
“We just heard three gunshots go off and people start running, so we had to close the gates and hide in the back,” said Mariah Stewart, who works at the mall’s Hollister store.
Scott Mosser of Columbia was shopping for a new cell phone with his wife, Brenda, when they heard the shots.
Instead of running or hiding, Scott walked toward the scene and began to film the aftermath. In his video, two males are seen lying on the floor with apparent gunshot injuries.
Employees at the mall’s JD Sports store said another woman had been shot in the forearm when she ran into the store.
“I tried to get her a first aid kit, but you know, there’s only so much I can do. Some napkins to try to compress the bleeding,” said JD Sports employee Angel Corretjer.
As the mall remained on lockdown, anxious family members of shoppers arrived to wait outside.
“My wife and daughter are in the store behind Bath and Body Works,” said Steve Book of Lancaster. “It’s friggin’ scary. You never think it’s going to happen here, but it did.”
Update (3:48 p.m.): Officials with the Park City Center are responding to Sunday's incident. Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Brookfield Properties, the owner of the shopping mall, sent a statement to FOX43 saying "We are saddened and angered by the unfortunate, isolated incident that happened in our shopping center today... We are grateful for [the police's] swift action to contain the situation. Our highest priority right now is the well being of our guests and tenants."
This is a developing story, FOX43 will continue to update this article.