Executive Summary
- DeKalb County police arrested two suspects following a shooting at The Mall at Stonecrest on Saturday.
- Investigators state the gunfire resulted from an attempted armed robbery.
- One person was injured and hospitalized but is expected to survive.
- A witness alleged a delay in police response, though officials report arriving around 12:30 p.m.
STONECREST, Ga. — Two individuals have been taken into custody following a shooting incident at The Mall at Stonecrest on Saturday afternoon that left one person injured, according to the DeKalb County Police Department.
Police units responded to the shopping center on Turner Hill Road at approximately 12:30 p.m. following reports of active gunfire. Preliminary findings released by investigators indicate that an attempted armed robbery escalated into the shooting. Authorities stated that the mall was subsequently placed on lockdown for several hours to ensure public safety.
One individual sustained injuries during the altercation and was transported to a local hospital. Medical personnel have indicated that the victim is expected to survive. Law enforcement officials noted they are actively working to identify the specific targets of the initial robbery attempt.
Witnesses at the scene described a chaotic environment. Cynthia Roberts, an employee at the JCPenney department store, alleged that law enforcement did not arrive until more than an hour after the initial shooting occurred. Roberts further stated that once evacuations began, police provided limited details regarding the nature of the incident. In contrast, official police logs cite the response time around 12:30 p.m.
Investigative Outlook
The DeKalb County Police Department continues to investigate the precise sequence of events that transformed a robbery attempt into a shooting. A critical component of the ongoing inquiry will likely involve reconciling the official police response timeline with witness accounts alleging significant delays. Additionally, investigators are prioritizing the identification of the robbery victims to solidify the case against the suspects. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
