Authorities say they have arrested the owner of a shoe store to detect the shooting of thieves at Victorville Mall, who instead hit an innocent 9-year-old girl.
The signal for the shooting was given shortly before 18:30 on Tuesday in the Mall of Victor Valley. The shooting caused several shops to be blocked and employees were told to take shelter on the spot as lawmakers searched the mall for the gunman.
The girl was taking pictures with the Easter Bunny when she was shot. She was transported by air to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where she is in stable condition.
This is the 9-year-old girl injured yesterday when the owner of a shop chasing alleged thieves opened fire in Victorville Mall. This shop owner is now facing charges of attempted murder. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/ZtcjLUmWRK
– Tina Patel (@tina_patel) April 13, 2022
According to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office officials, 20-year-old Markel Cochrell, co-owner of a shoe store called Sole Addicts, has been identified as the shooter. Investigators say Cochrell, who lives in Adelanto, chased two thieves out of the store and fired several shots at them. The shots missed the thieves and hit the girl instead.
The girl and her family hid in a store immediately after the shooting, and an employee who was with them said she was remarkably calm. She remains hospitalized at Loma Linda Medical Center.
The shooter fled the scene, but Cockrell was found around 9 p.m. by a Nevada highway patrol and detained. Cochrell was detained at the Clark County Jail in Nevada on a $ 1 million extradition warrant for attempted murder.
(credit: LVMPD)
The mall opened on Wednesday, but the shooting was still fresh in the minds of shoppers and employees. Buyer Terry Latimore said she has lived in the area for a long time and has never seen as many problems as she sees now.
“It simply came to our notice then. We’ve been here for 10 years, we’ve never had a problem and I heard, I think a few weeks ago that something happened there, I turned around last night, it’s happening, “she said.” It’s awful. My heart is a little kid . “
Anyone with information about the shooting or investigation can contact the Victorville Police Department at (760) 241-2911.
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