Fight leads to shooting at Arbor Place mall
Douglasville GA Dec 21 2020 A fight between two women led to a shooting Saturday afternoon at Arbor Place mall, Douglasville police said.
In a tweet posted shortly before 4 p.m., the department said it received calls about shots fired near the mall’s security entrance. Responding officers found no gunshot victims inside, however, and said there were no active shooters at the scene.
“Initial video reveals the incident was a physical fight (between) two females,” the department said. “At some point during the fight a firearm was discharged. Both females then immediately fled the mall.”
Nobody was struck by the gunfire, but at least one person was injured after falling while running away, Douglasville police Maj. J.R. Davidson said. The person was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Authorities are still searching for the two women involved.
Several shoppers reported hiding in stores after hearing the gunfire. Others said they grabbed their belongings and ran from the mall as quickly as possible.
Arbor Place remained open after the shooting, although the entrance near the movie theater was closed Saturday afternoon while police investigated.
The incident in Douglasville is the latest shooting reported at a metro Atlanta mall this year and comes just days before Christmas. In Buckhead, officials recently announced they are increasing security at Lenox Square following a rash of shootings there, including one that left a man dead earlier this year.
Those plans include adding more police officers, installing metal detectors at mall entrances and having more K-9 units on the premises. The most recent shooting at Lenox occurred Dec. 5 when a man’s gun accidentally fired inside a store as he adjusted the waistband of his pants, Atlanta police said.
