GASTONIA, N.C. — Gastonia police are seeking public assistance to identify suspects involved in a shooting incident at Eastridge Mall last Thursday night.
Two shots were fired inside the mall, but fortunately, no one was injured.
The incident began when two young men caused a disturbance at a store, prompting employees to ask them to leave. Investigators report that one or both of the individuals then brandished a firearm.
Surveillance footage from the mall shows a person dressed in white, wearing a bonnet, holding a handgun as they approached two people in dark clothing near the entrance to Hibbett Sports. Shortly thereafter, one of the individuals reappeared, wielding a long gun.
“I was just here sitting down and then suddenly I heard the shots,” said Lai Espinosa, who runs a cell phone repair kiosk in the mall.
Espinosa recounted her experience during the incident, noting that she initially did not realize the sounds she heard were gunshots. “When I noticed people started running, that’s when I actually went inside the jewelry store, and they started closing the gates,” she said.
Joy King, who has a booth in the boutique market near the shooting site, expressed her concerns, saying, “Having a business here myself, I don’t want to see that, so I hope the police can find them.”
Witnesses reported seeing the suspects flee towards a vehicle parked on the Bargain Thrift Store side of the mall. The vehicle was described as a gamecock red mid-size SUV with four doors and no tinted windows.
An interesting detail noted by a witness was the presence of a phone mount in the front of the SUV, similar to those used by Uber or Lyft drivers.
Despite the alarming nature of the event, Espinosa and King both expressed that they do not question their safety at the mall. Espinosa remarked, “When it comes to young kids, pretty much everything that happens is between people that know each other.”
The mall, which has been struggling with low foot traffic, was once a bustling hub of activity. “In its heyday, this was the place to come, and it was so lit up,” King reminisced.
King remains committed to her business at the mall, offering affordable jewelry to customers who might not otherwise be able to afford it. “I sell affordable jewelry, most of it’s five dollars and under, so I get a lot of women that really couldn’t afford jewelry if I wasn’t here,” she explained.
Police are urging anyone with information about the suspects or the incident to contact the Gastonia Police Department. The release of the surveillance video is hoped to aid in identifying those responsible for the crime.
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