VICTORVILLE, Calif. (KABC) – A man has been arrested for accidentally shooting a 9-year-old girl while chasing two thieves from his store in Victorville Mall on Tuesday night, authorities said.
Markel Cochrell, co-owner of Sole Addicts, fired multiple shots at the thief, but instead missed and hit the girl, according to Victorville Police Department. Cockrel escaped the scene after the shooting and was later found by a Nevada highway patrol.
A 20-year-old man from Adelanto was convicted in Clark County Jail of attempted murder and held on $ 1,000,000 bail. He will probably face extradition back to California.
The unidentified young girl was taken to hospital and was last described as in stable condition.
Social media posts that appear to be from the girl’s family say she was shot twice in the arm while in line to pose for the Easter Bunny. She is expected to be well.
A firing squad was received by authorities around 6:30 p.m. at the Mall of Victor Valley, located at 14,400 Bear Valley Rd Ste 735.
“I didn’t hear anything, but everyone was running and going crazy. And this is not the first time, “said Alison Ramirez, who works at the mall.
The shops were closed and employees and customers took shelter inside. There was a strong law enforcement presence in front of the Barnes & Noble store, and customers were spotted gathering in a lobby at a nearby Macy’s store as lawmakers searched the area.
“We were scared. We were waiting for someone to get us out, fortunately the police did,” said Silemir Vale, who also works at the mall.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department evacuated the mall during a preliminary search for the shooter.
The incident caused panic among workers and customers in the area.
“We were scared. We were just waiting for someone to get us out,” said Silemir Vale, a mall worker.
Since then, the mall has reopened, but buyers remain concerned.
“It will bother me because I could be there or my little sister. It could have been one of us, “said buyer Mitzel Moran.
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