Community still shaken after fight, shooting that injured 3 at a NC mall in Raleigh
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- New details have been released in the Friday shooting at Triangle Town Center mall.
According to the Raleigh Police Department, the incident happened around 3:30 p.m. when a 20-year-old mall employee was confronted by three 17-year-olds. Police say the employee was assaulted during the confrontation and then pulled out a handgun, firing multiple shots.
The gunfire prompted shoppers and employees to run for cover.
"We heard it -- like, 10 more shots -- so we knew it was gunshots then," one mall employee said.
Community still on edge
Community members said they remained shaken Saturday as Triangle Town Center reopened a day after a shooting injured three people and sent shoppers running for safety.
The mall resumed operations Saturday with increased security, but some visitors said the events of Friday left them uneasy about returning to a place they once considered safe. Mall staff said security personnel have been increased by 50 percent since the shooting.
"It was like, kind of got me on edge a little bit because just like, you need to be protected. This is one of the places you feel like you should be safe," said Cameron Gerald of Raleigh.
Raleigh police said the shooting happened after a fight broke out between three teens and a mall employee. Investigators said the teens confronted and attacked the worker before the employee pulled out a gun and fired shots.
Police said the employee and one of the teens were injured and remained at the scene. Two other teens fled the mall; one of them was injured, and officers later located both at a nearby hospital. Police said everyone involved in the incident has been located.
Investigators found two handguns inside the mall. One teen was released from the hospital, while the other three people involved remained hospitalized overnight. No charges have been filed.
One juvenile was released to a parent. The three remaining injured individuals remained in the hospital. Their condition has not been released.
For some, the shooting hit hard. Gerald said he and his child usually visit the mall on Fridays and would have been there during the incident.
"Yesterday we would have been in the mall in a play area. So right when that was going on, we would have been right in the food court," he said.
Michael Spivey of Raleigh said he usually goes for walks at the mall, but decided not to Friday.
"I probably would have been up yesterday when everything was going on," he said.
Others in the community expressed frustration and called for accountability.
"These young people, they need to do something about this. They are bigger than that. They got to do better," said Julia Spivey of Raleigh.
Police wrapped up the on-site investigation late Friday evening, allowing the mall to reopen Saturday. A food truck festival brought dozens of visitors, some of whom said the heightened security presence made them feel safer.
"I feel safe with it. They got security all through the mall," said Spivey.
Still, several shoppers said they had to weigh whether it was worth returning so soon after the violence.
"With everything going on, we were like should we stay home or should we not? But we're just like, we're going to come real quick, figure out what we want, get our food, and then we're going to leave right out," Gerald said.
Raleigh police said the decision on whether to file charges now rests with the Wake County district attorney. Investigators said they are continuing to review what happened during Friday's shooting.
