A “random” incident between two groups who
encountered at the mall ended with a deadly
A “random” incident between two groups of young men at Cielo Vista Mall ended with a deadly shooting according to police.
The confrontation began as a physical fight but escalated. “One person produced a handgun and shots were fired,” according to Interim Police Chief Peter Pacillas in a Thursday press conference .
One person was killed, three others were hospitalized with gun shot wound.
“This was two random groups that escalated into a fight,” Pacillas said.
The two groups of men were in their late teens to early 20s according but Pacillas said “it does not appear to be gang-related.”
The gunfire in the busy mall food court Wednesday just after 5pm sent shoppers running for cover. Several hid in stores as employees closed gates and barricaded entrances.
Pacillas credited an off-duty police officer working security at the mall for taking a suspect into custody almost immediately. “The response was quick, three minutes…,” he said. A second person is in custody, but police have not provided any details.
More than 50 police units, along with state and federal law enforcement responded. The mall is near the Walmart that was the scene of a deadly mass shooting in 2019.
Pacillas said the city has mental health resources listed on its website www.epstrong.org.
“Our investigators are still meeting with witnesses and identifying all parties involved,” Pacillas said.
The FBI is helping with the investigation and asking witnesses to shareany video or photos.
“There were at least three people legally armed with handguns in the area of this incident,” Pacillas said. Preliminary information indicates they were not involved in the shooting according to police.
