JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police have arrested an 18-year-old they say was the gunman who fired at three shots inside Regency Square Mall on Friday afternoon. One of the shots struck a woman working at a kiosk in the arm.
Keith Brown was charged on Sunday with two counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a delinquent felon.
Investigators said Brown was aiming at a couple in the mall that he had a previous altercation with, but one of the bullets struck Menisa Sapkota as she was working at a sunglasses kiosk nearby.
The victim was hospitalized for a bullet wound to her shoulder, but was released Friday night. Her husband, Sujan Sapkota, said the bullet is still lodged in her shoulder.
"She's in the house, and she feeling some pain, a lot of pain," he said.
According to the arrest report, the couple Brown fired at came to the Police Memorial Building and identified him as the gunman from a photo spread. They said Brown fired at them as they were leaving Finish Line, a shoe store in the mall.
"The suspect at the time was with two other individuals and fired three shots. All three shots went into the mall. One of them struck the victim," Lt. Brian Richardson said.
Richardson said police continue looking for the two other men seen in surveillance pictures released Friday night. The photos show three men near the indoor entrance to the Belk department store.
Police released Brown's juvenile criminal history, which includes several charges of carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a weapon on school property, as well as burglary.
Police said Brown was the gunman and they continue searching for the two men who were with him at the time. Anyone with information about the others is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.
Victim's husband back at work at mall
Sapkota's husband was backing working at the kiosk Saturday, but said opening up business Saturday was tough.
"Yeah, I'm so scared," said Sujan Sapkota. "Still I am scared, right now."
The couple has run the kiosk for about a year. Sapkota said he doesn't believe his wife was a target, but instead an innocent person caught in the line of fire.
"No, no, she doesn't know anything about this," Sapkota said. "She didn't see anything."
Shoppers told Channel 4 that they heard two shots and there was some running immediately after the gunfire.
"Everybody just started running, and I started running with them and everyone was panicking," shopper Tiffany Anderson said.
Some shoppers said they're terrified by the shooting.
"It's just crazy. Someone opened fire in the mall. It's just ridiculous," Jimmy Harrison said.
Some said the mall should have done more to protect them.
"My worry is that they didn't clear out the mall completely," Sherry Vaughn said. "I mean, you have people sitting in the food court with their children eating, people still shopping on the other side. They don't know what's going on."
The mall's general manager said security did notify retailers, and shortly after the shooting, the mall reopened after portions were closed down during the police investigation.
While it's unclear if the shooting could've been prevented, attorneys say it's the mall's responsibility to provide protection.
"There has to be a system to be able to notify everyone on the premises, including in the parking lot and take safe action," attorney Eric Ragatz said.
He said businesses must do more than send out a clear emergency message. They must also take prior precautions.
The mall said released a statement, saying, "We have a customized public safety program that entails many different measures. We don't discuss those measures because that would compromise our efforts."
"Not all circumstances can be prevented, but they do have responsibility and a duty to take reasonable measures to keep the patrons safe," Ragatz said.
Police said the shooting was an isolated event, and the mall maintains that safety is a top priority.