WHEATON, MD- Montgomery County police are crediting the training of a mall security guard for preventing further mayhem at a Wheaton, Maryland, mall when an armed teen began shooting at a group of teens near a children's play area, DC News Now reports.
The shooting injured a 13-year-old boy in the ankle, who was treated and released.
On July 31 at around 6:00 p.m., a 17-year-old, who was not identified because of his age, stood up from a table and began shooting a 9mm handgun toward the group of teens, striking the 13-year-old.
The suspect then fled through the mall toward a Dick’s Sporting Goods, where he was confronted by an armed security guard.
“Due to his alert observations, [he] was able to make contact with this individual, order him to the ground, and that enabled us to make that apprehension,” Montgomery County Police Commander David Smith told DC News Now.
The suspect was charged as an adult with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a violent felony, carrying a loaded handgun, and possession of a firearm by a minor.
It is unknown whether the suspect and victim knew each other, and police were not releasing a possible motive for the attack.
In response to the shooting, police have added additional foot and bicycle patrols during overlapping shifts. An additional police team was also added to the area this week to provide more visibility.
“Preliminarily, from the feedback that I’ve received from the officers who responded, we had a tremendous partnership, and we were able to get the individual secure very quickly,” Smith added.
One mall employee speaking on the condition of anonymity credited the initial response, saying it seemed to have worked as intended but questioned how the suspect got the gun, in apparent violation of Maryland’s very “strict” gun laws.
“From what someone told me, they did their job–at least from the briefing I got,” the employee said. “How did he get the gun?”
In response to the shooting, Smith urged parents to pay attention to where their children are and to speak with them about handling disagreements without violence.
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