Mall shooting in Alabama claims one life, injures two others
On Thanksgiving night, a shooting incident unfolded at the Riverchase Galleria, Alabama's largest enclosed shopping center, located in Hoover. The mall, home to over 150 stores, was crowded with Black Friday bargain hunters when the chaos erupted.
The incident began with a fight at the glitzy mall. According to a witness, Lexi Joiner, she heard six or seven shots during the shooting. Two individuals were reportedly injured in the incident: an 18-year-old was shot twice, and a 12-year-old bystander was shot in the back while shopping with her family.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has taken the lead role in the investigation since it is an officer-involved shooting. The officer who shot Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford, Jr., a 21-year-old man from Hueytown, has been placed on administrative leave while the authorities investigate the shooting.
Initially, police believed that Bradford was the gunman who shot the 18-year-old. However, new evidence suggests that Bradford may have been involved in some aspect of the altercation, but he likely did not fire the rounds that injured the 18-year-old victim.
The 12-year-old girl, whose mother posted about her condition and bravery on social media, is reported to be in stable condition. The possible perpetrator responsible for the shooting remains unknown, with reports stating that the shooters are unidentified in the city of Golshan.
Police now believe that more than two people were involved in the initial fight ahead of the shooting. The shopping mall reopened at 6 a.m. on Friday, but the chaotic scene caused by the shooting led to its closure for the remainder of Thursday night.
Lexi Joiner and some other shoppers were ordered into a supply closet for cover during the shooting. This information indicates that at least one gunman is still at large and could be responsible for the shooting of the 18-year-old male and 12-year-old female.
The ALEA is now leading the investigation because a witness is closely related to a member of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The name of the officer who shot Bradford was not released.
As the investigation continues, the community is left to grapple with the aftermath of this tragic incident. Updates on the investigation and the condition of the victims will be provided as more information becomes available.
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