Two people were wounded in a shooting Sunday at the parking garage at the Shops at North East Mall, Hurst police say.
Hurst police said Monday Tacorian Keith Howard, 21, is in custody facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful carrying of a weapon, as well as additional outstanding warrants from Euless.
Police responded to the shooting on the second level of one of the parking structures around 1:45 p.m. Sunday. A 35-year-old man was shot "multiple times" and was transported to a hospital, police said. He remained hospitalized Monday morning and was expected to make a full recovery, police said.
Another person was injured by what may have been shrapnel from a bullet and was treated by medics, police said.
Officials said they thought Howard was approaching people on foot to rob them.
Elicia Wilson was walking out of the mall with her son when she said she heard at least four gunshots. They were on the floor below.
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"I rushed to get him in the car, buckled him up," Wilson said. "As soon as we left, I saw the EMS and the police coming in."
Wilson said she has shopped at the mall for years and said she's never experienced anything like this there.
"I’ve never even seen a fight in that mall," she said. "It’s scary. You want to protect your kids and family but crime happens everything. You just got to be vigilant and be aware of your surroundings."
Dennis Poling lives across the street from the mall. At the time of the shooting, he was outside in the backyard with family.
"It was echoing, so I know it came from the inside of the parking garage the way it echoed," Poling said. "I know it was gunshots right away. I came from California where I worked with the police department."
His first thought was to get his family inside the house, he said.
"It’s sort of bizarre because for as long as we’ve been here, we’ve never heard anything or seen anything like that from the mall. It’s always been a pretty quiet, quiet area."
NBC 5 reached out to Simon Property Group, which manages the mall, on Sunday afternoon for comment.
"As this is an ongoing police matter, all inquiries should be directed to the Hurst Police Department," an emailed statement read.
Police said the shooting appeared to be an isolated event and that there was no further threat to the public.
