Two people shot at Columbia Place mall
Columbia SC April 16 2018 Two men were injured in a shooting Saturday in the Columbia Place mall parking lot, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Two groups of people were in the parking lot at about 2:40 p.m. when shots were fired, according to a department statement.
Of the two who were injured, one was shot in the upper body and suffered life-threatening injuries, according to police. A second person had lower-body injuries that are not life-threatening, police said.
The mall was still up and running Saturday afternoon. There were people eating in the food court right next to the crime scene, which included blood on the floor.
There was a trail of blood from the door to the middle of the mall. It ends with a pile of paper towels, rubber gloves and gauze bandages.
An eyewitness said he didn’t hear any shots but saw people running through the mall. At first, people ran away from the injured man, but then mall employees and the security guard rushed to help him.
Columbia Place mall is located on Two Notch Road in Richland County. It is one of four traditional malls still operating in the Columbia area.
The county is buying part of the mall to relocate government offices there. Former anchors Dillard’s, Burlington Coat Factory and Sears will become the sites of several Richland County government offices.
A description of any vehicles involved in the incident was not available late Saturday afternoon, according to police. Deputies are asking witnesses and anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at 888-CRIME-SC.
