(Photo from New Castle County Paramedics)
Delaware State Police are seeking more information on a Saturday night shooting at the Christiana Mall food court and on Monday released a brief video. (See below). Suspects are still being sought.
According to troopers, at 6:43 p.m., the Delaware State Police responded to the Christiana Mall for a report of a shooting at the food court entrance. Also responding was the Christina Fire Company after someone fleeing the scene pulled an alarm.
Troopers determined that three male suspects confronted an 18-year-old male as he was exiting the food court. The three suspects began to assault the victim, at which point the victim’s two friends began fighting with the suspects.
During the fight, one suspect removed a handgun from his waistband and fired multiple rounds. The first victim and his friend, a 16-year-old male were both struck by three rounds in the torso and the lower extremities. The suspects then fled the scene.
One 18-year-old was standing on the sidewalk outside of the entrance when he was struck by one bullet in his lower body. He was transported to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
The two victims struck multiple times by gunfire were transported to area hospitals and are listed in stable condition.
The Christiana Fire Company that a total of eight persons were taken from the scene by ambulance to ChristianaCare Newark Campus, including five who were transported due to a variety of other injuries/medical emergencies.
The mall was closed to shoppers on Easter Sunday and returned to regular hours on Monday.
On Monday, Delaware State Police announced they would be at the mall until 8 p.m. to assist mall staff on returning lost property Anyone wishing to reclaim property is asked to go to the vacant storefront next to the Apple store.
The mall was closed off with DelDOT snowplows that little action during the past winter blocking entrances.
A family reunification location was listed outside the AT&T store near the mall, with a media staging area at a strip center outside the mall near Petco and Dicks Sporting Goods.
The mall area consists of the enclosed mall, along with a theater and a goods store nearby The area also includes strip center stores, a Costco, and the Christiana Fashion Center, a sprawling “lifestyle” center.
The mall interior has not seen a shooting, although serious crimes have been reported around the property.
The mall is off I-95, east of Newark. It remains a popular destination and has not suffered the fate of many enclosed malls that lost their anchors and stores. Concord Mall and Dover Mall have struggled with higher vacancy rates.
The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Criminal Investigative Unit is investigating the incident. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective H. Carroll by calling 302-365-8467. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Corrected: It was earlier reported that the time to pick up belongings left behind was Sunday. It is Monday.
