A 21-year-old man remains in serious condition after being shot inside a shopping center in Sterling, Virginia, Loudoun County authorities said.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office received a tip from the Dulles Town Center shopping center for a report of shooting before noon Sunday, Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers found the shooting victim walking out of the Cheesecake Factory exit, and immediately called fire rescue for treatment.
Also, the agents learned that the alleged shooter was still inside the mall near the food court. Authorities went up some stairs and found the suspect sitting on the ground with the gun near him.
Subsequently, the subject was arrested without major inconvenience, since he did not try to flee or fight with the officers, authorities said, who indicated that he was transported to the sheriff’s office.
Meanwhile, the victim was transported to a hospital in serious condition with a wound to the abdomen. No further details were offered about her current status.
Chapman said officers do not believe the shooter and the victim knew each other. The suspect, a man in his 30s, drew a gun after a brief altercation with another shopper at the mall.
“We always try to teach run, hide, fight, which is exactly what people have started to do,” Chapman said, noting that buyers were very helpful to law enforcement on the scene.
With information from WJLA