Multiple people injured in shooting at Florida mall
Multiple people were injured on Saturday after a shooting at a mall in Aventura, Fla.
The Aventura Police Department said on Twitter that three victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries and are being treated at local hospitals after a shooting at Aventura Mall.
Several suspects involved in the shooting are in custody.
#AventuraPolice We have several suspects involved in custody and being question by Detectives. We have 3 victims who have sustained NON- life threatening injuries and out being treated at local hospitals. @cityofaventura pic.twitter.com/SbpSqh6GZZ
— Aventura Police (@aventurapolice) May 8, 2021
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said that it transported to hospitals a total of five patients, one of whom was transported to a trauma center.
This afternoon at 3:39 p.m., #MDFR responded to an incident at Aventura Mall. A total of 5 patients were transported to a local-area hospital. One of those patients was a trauma alert and was transported to a local trauma center.
— Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (@MiamiDadeFire) May 8, 2021
The shooting happened after two groups of people began fighting, according to police.
Aventura Police Major Michael Bentolila told reporters that a person in one group displayed a weapon, and then someone in the second group displayed a weapon and started shooting.
While three suspects are in custody, police are still looking for the main shooter, Bentolila said.
Videos of the incident began appearing on Twitter just before 4 p.m., according to NBC affiliate WPTV.
One person, Derek Smart, shared a 20-second clip on Twitter of people franticly taking cover inside the mall.
Smart said he was in the mall, and that he was on the floor behind cover when he filmed the clip.
I was in the mall (my office is 5 mins away) when this shooting occurred a few stores over. Heard the shot, training kicked in – herded everyone, dove for cover behind cabinets. On the floor behind cover when I made this video. Pure chaos. Just left.#aventura #aventuramall pic.twitter.com/4VoWgsm5ib
— Derek Smart (@dsmart) May 8, 2021
Everyone in the mall was escorted off the property, Bentolila said.
Police said on Twitter that the mall would be closed for the remainder of Saturday and would fully reopen from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
#AventuraPolice The @AventuraMall will remain closed for the remainder of the evening. The mall will fully re-open tomorrow starting at 12pm to 8pm. @cityofaventura pic.twitter.com/gSBWbCfcR3
— Aventura Police (@aventurapolice) May 8, 2021
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