One dead, multiple people injured in Florida mall shooting

One man died and multiple people have been injured in a shooting in a Florida mall Saturday, according to local authorities.

Police received a call about a shooting at the Paddock Mall in Ocala, Fla., at around 3:40 p.m., according to a Facebook post from the Ocala Police Department (OPD). One adult male was “found deceased in a common area” by police and another woman “sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to the hospital and is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.”

“There is no longer an active shooting situation,” the Facebook post read. “There are multiple people injured. The suspect is believed to have fled. The mall is being evacuated at this time. Please avoid the area as police investigate.”

“OPD is responding to an active shooting situation that occurred at the Paddock Mall,” the post continued. “There is a heavy police presence on scene and we will provide more information as it becomes available. Please avoid the area at this time.”

Ocala is a city in central Florida estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to have a population of over 65,000 people. 

“We will continue to update with more information as we have it,” Rep. Kat Cammack’s (R-Fla.) office posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Please pray for those injured and the men and women of our law enforcement who will work overtime until this individual is found.”

In a press conference on the shooting, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken said police believe the shooting at the mall was a “targeted act of violence.” Balken also said that police know the shooter is a Black male who was wearing a black hoodie, black pants and a black mask that was partially covering his face. He said police were searching for the man.

Updated at 10:12pm.