After fighting off would-be robbers at a Florida mall parking lot on Monday afternoon, a man was shot in the leg. He managed to grab his gun from his car and shot one suspect in the stomach.
What Are The Details?
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrived at Westfield Brandon Mall around 2:05 p.m. following several calls regarding shots fired.
Deputies arrived and found a man with a gunshot wound on one leg outside Dillard’s east side. He was transported to Tampa General Hospital in stable condition.
According to preliminary information, the victim of the shooting entered Dillard’s mall to go to a jewelry shop.
The victim left the mall and made his way toward his car when two suspects approached him. The victim was shot by one suspect, and the second attempted to steal a gold chain worth tens of thousands of dollars from him.
The fight continued and the victim was able to hold onto his chain. However, the suspects ran away from the victim and fired one shot at him, hitting him in the leg.
The victim was able to get a gun out of his car and shot at the fleeing suspects.
What’s Next?
Later that afternoon, a male with a gunshot wound in his stomach was taken to Advent Health at 3100 E. Fletcher Ave. Tampa. According to the sheriff’s office, the male suspect is one of the mall shooters.
Just over 20 minutes from the mall is the Advent Health facility.
According to the sheriff’s office, the victim of the attempted robbery was transported to Tampa General Hospital in stable condition.
‘Deplorable’
Afterward, Sheriff Chad Chronister remarked on the “violence seen this afternoon at such a public location is deplorable.” This was a targeted attack to rob the victim. We are thankful that no other people were hurt.
According to the sheriff’s office, the mall was not placed under lockdown and was not in an active shooter situation. The sheriff’s office said that detectives are currently trying to find out if the victims and suspects know each other.
Anybody with information about the identity or whereabouts of the second suspect may call the sheriff’s department at 813-247-8200.
