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A 15-year-old Hispanic boy was arrested in connection with a Mayfair shopping center shooting Friday that left eight people injured, Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber said on Sunday.
Weber told a press conference that the incident was “not a random act” but rather an altercation between two groups, which he said resulted in the injury of four “innocent bystanders”.
WISCONSIN MALL PULLING AT LEAST 8 INJURED LEAVES; SHOOTER WANTED
Police said the suspect, who resided in Milwaukee, fled on foot with others exiting the mall. He was arrested on Saturday evening following the execution of search warrants. Weber said he believed the boy was arrested during a traffic stop and a gun was also found at the scene of the arrest.
The process of completely securing the mall, which contains 1.2 million square feet of space, took about six hours and involved seven tactical teams. Meanwhile, investigators interviewed victims and witnesses to identify the shooter.
The identity of the suspect was not disclosed to prevent the investigation from being compromised and to avoid the potential destruction of evidence.
Weber said the initial information released regarding the shooter “was wrong” as to “who we were looking for”, adding that the police “thought he was a white male, but was of no age.” As the investigation progressed and investigators began to develop leads, Weber said they began to believe it was “someone younger.”
Besides the 15-year-old boy, others involved in the altercation have been taken into custody. The reason for the altercation remains under investigation.
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Police added that most of the victims are recovering from non-life threatening injuries and have been released from hospital. Weber and Mayor Dennis McBride stressed that there is no immediate danger to the public and that the Mayfair Mall is still a “wonderful place to shop” and “a safe place to be”.
“An incident like this can happen anytime, anywhere,” Weber said. “I encourage people to show their support for Mayfair.”
“I’ll tell you this, as soon as I leave here I’m leaving for Mayfair,” McBride added. “I have no problem. And I never did and I never will. It’s a safe place.”
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