Ocala police have identified the man who was killed in a “targeted” shooting at the Paddock Mall on Saturday afternoon, and detectives are searching for a person of interest in the case.
According to the Ocala Police Department, the shooting was reported at around 3:40 p.m. on Saturday. Although it was originally called in as an active shooter, OPD stated that the shooting had already ended after they entered the building with a heavy police presence.
Upon entering the mall, one man was found in a common area deceased from gunshot wounds. He was later identified by police as 40-year-old David Nathaniel Barron.
OPD stated that an unidentified woman at the mall also sustained a gunshot wound, and she was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Across social media, dozens of people reported hearing shots fired before chaos broke out at the mall, which is located at 3100 SW College Road.
Ocala police stated that they are actively investigating the scene. Multiple agencies also responded to the mall, including the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Ocala Fire Rescue, Marion County Fire Rescue, and the Florida Highway Patrol.
“The shooter fled the area and is currently at large. We also believe this shooting may have been targeted,” reads a statement that was issued by OPD shortly after 11:45 p.m. on Saturday night.
An hour after releasing that statement, the police department released the following photos of a person of interest in the deadly mall shooting:
If you were at the Paddock Mall during the shooting and have information that could help detectives, or if you recognize the person of interest sought by police, OPD asks that you call Detective Boyer at 352-369-7000.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact the Crime Stoppers of Marion County by calling 352-368-STOP(7867) or clicking here to submit an online tip. If you use Crime Stoppers and your tip leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.
If anyone has a video of the shooting that was captured on their phone, OPD asks that you share the footage with detectives. You can send videos via email to mediarelations@ocalapd.org or by phone to 352-656-6137.
Check back on Ocala-News.com for updates on this developing story.