Two people were wounded in a shooting at an Arkansas mall on Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the year, according to authorities.
Little Rock police described the gunshot, which occurred at 1:44 p.m. local time at Park Plaza, as an isolated incident rather than an active shooter situation. Police believe the incident began as a “disturbance between two individuals, which escalated into gunfire.”
Police expect both victims to make full recoveries. No arrests were immediately announced.
Little Rock Police Chief Heath Helton first stated at an afternoon news conference that responding officers discovered one wounded individual at the scene and two more were transported to a hospital later. However, authorities later stated that just one victim was transported to a nearby hospital by private vehicle, not two.
The specific circumstances of the incident remained unknown. Troy Daniell, manager of Journey’s Kidz shoe store, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he was working when he heard the gunfire and “got all of the customers out of there.”
I got them all to the back of the store and out of there. When I heard the first shot, I assumed something had fallen, but then I heard a few more gunfire and realized what was going on.”
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. issued a statement saying that “the careless, senseless, and criminal actions of two individuals today jeopardized the lives and safety of residents and visitors.” We are praying for the victims of this catastrophe and wish them a full recovery.”