Shooting at Philadelphia Mills shopping center: 1 dead, suspect at large

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) – The person responsible for a fatal shooting inside the Philadelphia Mills shopping center, which left the stepson of an AD office detective dead, remains at large.

The victim has been identified as Dominic Billa, 21. He was shot in the chest several times after a big fight at the food court.

The shooting took place around 5 p.m. Monday in the 1400 block of Franklin Mills Circle, near the orange entrance to the mall.

Food court surveillance video posted to social media shows a man on crutches approached by a man who was wearing an outfit similar to the one Billa was seen wearing that day. Billa posted a video of himself entering the mall before filming.

The man on crutches is pushed, and then a scuffle occurs as the men involved exit the frame.

Moments later gunshots erupted and – on the same surveillance video – people can be seen running.

Action News got the dispatch calls which were recorded moments after filming.

“Near the food court … reports of gunfire coming from inside … someone possibly shooting in this mall … someone with a gun,” said the dispatch.

Sources tell Action News they believe a friend of the man on crutches could be the shooter.

Police sources told Action News they had surveillance footage of a SEPTA bus being boarded by people just after the shooting.

Sources say the video is crystal clear and that police are actively looking to find at least one man seen on the bus who they believe was involved.

District Attorney Larry Krasner confirmed that Billa was the stepson of a detective assigned to his office’s homicide and non-fatal shooting unit.

“I offer my deepest condolences to our detective and to those close to Mr. Billa. We are outraged by the violence that claimed the life of this young man,” Krasner said in a statement.

Given the recent mass shootings across the country, hundreds of shoppers thought it was an active shooting situation in the mall and ran for cover.

Denise Mayer and her nine-year-old son Jaylen say they suffered scrapes and bruises.

Denise believes her rib was cracked when they were stepped on by people trying to escape.

“When we were pushed to the ground my knee hurt,” Mayer said. “I have grazes on my back. It was terrible. We were both screaming and crying.”

Mayer and his son were eating pizza in the mall when the gunshots broke out.

“At first we thought that big balloon had burst, so everyone looked up … and we heard more, that’s when everyone got up to scream and run, ”Jaylen said.

The city council’s gun prevention task force held its regular meeting on Tuesday. Police Commissioner Outlaw pointed out that 1,500 guns had been taken off the streets, but said gun convictions were dropping.

Police will only say that this is an ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the shooter is asked to call the police at 215-686-TIPS.