The Ocala Police Department in Florida has reported that they are searching for a person of interest in the shooting that occurred at the Paddock Mall shopping center this weekend. The incident left one man dead, identified as David Nathaniel Barron, 40, and another woman injured.
“This afternoon, OPD received a call about a shooting at the Paddock shopping center with multiple gunshots," police explained Saturday. "One adult male was found deceased in a common area, and one woman was taken to the hospital and is being treated for non life threatening injuries. We believe the shooter fled the area and is at large."
This afternoon at around 3:40 p.m., OPD received a call in regarding a shooting at the Paddock mall with multiple shots fired. pic.twitter.com/byYiP4VNIR
— Ocala Police (@ocalapd) December 23, 2023
Authorities stated that they are investigating the case and that they suspect that it was a planned shooting.
Law enforcement later updated the information and released images of the suspected shooter. They have asked citizens who were in the shopping center at the time of the shooting to contact authorities if they have any information or videos that could assist the investigation.
"If you recognize this person, please call 352-369-7000 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Marion County," the Ocala Police wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
This is a person of interest in the deadly Paddock Mall shooting.
If you recognize this person, please call 352-369-7000 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Marion County by calling 352-368-STOP (7867) or **TIPS. Tips can also be submitted to https://t.co/TZBhTyKhkL. pic.twitter.com/c1x2qW5dCH
— Ocala Police (@ocalapd) December 24, 2023
Ongoing investigation
The suspect is a 39-year-old man named Albert Shell Jr. Shell has an arrest warrant for premeditated first-degree murder and attempted premeditated first-degree murder.
If you call OPD and tell us where he is and your information leads to his arrest, we will pay you $5,000! Call 352-656-6137. Please, do not call that number for any other matter. https://t.co/xDMPxPqvEX
— Ocala Police (@ocalapd) December 24, 2023
Local officials are also looking for a second man who reportedly took the shooter's red hat from the crime scene. The hat, which can be seen in footage of the attack, is a critical part of the investigation because it "may contain valuable DNA evidence."
In their first statement, the police department tried to address him directly, explaining the importance of the object and urging him to return it. They also warned that if he did not, they would publish his image. After the deadline, the official Ocala Police account shared a video in which the man can be seen at the Paddock Mall:
CAN YOU IDENTIFY? This person tampered with crucial evidence by taking the shooter's red hat from the crime scene at the Paddock Mall. That hat may contain valuable DNA evidence. pic.twitter.com/v0QlRuVGLH
— Ocala Police (@ocalapd) December 25, 2023
