Pandemonium unleashed when a gunman pulled out his weapon and opened fire inside Aventura Mall on Saturday afternoon.
The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) revealed that a total of five people were transferred to a local hospital. Three victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries from the shooting, while the other two victims were hurt while attempting to exit the mall. Only one of those patients went to a local trauma center with more severe wounds.
“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,” said the MDFR.
The Miami Police responded after reports of gunshot sounds began flooding in. Crowds of shoppers rushed to exit the mall, while some people took cover inside the stores, closets, and storage rooms. Soon enough, employees began to lock down the stores as the police investigated and sweeped the incident.
Salma Akter was one of the shoppers who managed to leave early during the shooting. She said that the security guided her, along with more people, through a separate exit inside one of the building’s storage rooms.
“I saw people running on the first floor and a lady told me that there was a shooting (….) Then I heard the sound [of gunfire], dropped the clothes I was holding, and ran inside a room,” Akter said.
“[A] good thing was that I was one of the first to leave. The security won’t let people inside anymore,” she continued.
Investigative security measures lightened once more as the mall reopened a day after the shooting unfolded.
Authorities revealed that the episode started as a feud between two groups of people. One shopper showed his weapon, opting another shopper from the opposing group to pull out his gun and open fire.
The Aventura Police posted frequent updates on Twitter regarding the event — one post indicated that several suspects were taken into custody. No further information has been released as the search for the gunman continues.
“Some criminal activity happened. Police came, shut down the mall, and everybody was evacuated,” an Aventura Mall employee told The Harbinger.
Gun-related threats are fairly common in the United States. A similar situation had transpired last year in Aventura, where two victims were injured amid a shooting that was also sparked by an argument. The police arrested Jose Belony, who was charged with two counts of second-degree attempted murder and aggravated battery.
Saturday’s incident nearly became part of the 191 mass shootings with casualties that have unfolded throughout the entirety of 2021.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava posted a statement hours later on Saturday night. She commended first responders for jumping into action, and continued on by calling for charge against gun violence in the South Florida community.
“Deeply grateful to @MiamiDadePD, @MiamiDadeFire, @aventurapolice and all the first responders who saved lives today,” she said.
“No one should fear for their safety while simply shopping with their family – we must end the scourge of gun violence that threatens all corners of our community.”
