BRAINTREE, Mass. — State Police say two suspects have been arrested following a shooting that injured one person inside the South Shore Plaza mall in Braintree on Friday evening.
Two males have been detained and are in custody. Police agencies and @MetroLEC SWAT are continuing to clear the plaza and release those sheltering in place.
— Braintree Police Department (@BraintreePolice) July 3, 2020
The lockdown at the mall and the shelter-in-place of surrounding neighborhoods have been lifted.
Police say the suspects fled the scene on foot following the shooting but were later found and arrested. It is unclear where they were found.
CONTINUING COVERAGE on @boston25: Female with minor injuries after being shot inside South Shore Mall. Two men in custody. Shoppers in lockdown still leaving mall at this time. Shooting was targeted. Fight had broken out between two groups. #Braintree pic.twitter.com/SfCvXJbQK1
— Christine McCarthy (@ChristineMNews) July 3, 2020
Suspect (s) area believed to have fled the mall on foot, neighborhoods surrounding the plaza are urged to shelter in place and call police of suspicious activity.
— Braintree Police Department (@BraintreePolice) July 3, 2020
According to officials, the shooting happened at around 4:43 p.m. and stores were immediately placed under lockdown; anyone inside the stores was asked to stay put. Some witnesses were taken to the basement level of the stores in the mall, such as people who had been inside the Sephora and spoke to Boston 25 News.
UPDATE from @MassStatePolice: 1 person taken to hospital (condition unknown), shooter is believed to have left the mall. Evidence suggests this was a targeted shooting, not an active shooter or terrorist event. https://t.co/cBxauwwxez
— Mike Saccone (@mikesacconetv) July 3, 2020
Stores are currently in lockdown, please remain in the stores
— Braintree Police Department (@BraintreePolice) July 3, 2020
Police say this was a targeted attack and not an act of terrorism or an active shooting.
The victim, a 15-year-old girl, has been transported to Boston Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
Mall remains shelter in place as police clear. Believed a targeted incident of violence, not an active shooter. One gunshot vic. transported with non life threatening injuries. More when avail.
— Braintree Police Department (@BraintreePolice) July 3, 2020
Exit 6 in Braintree was shutdown so police could continue to canvass and investigate the area. The exit has since been reopened.
Witnesses at the scene say the shooting happened following an argument over shoes inside the mall. A woman who sheltered-in-place inside a Sephora store said after the argument ensued, one of the men took a gun from his fanny pack and fired four to five shots.
Anyone with video of the incident or who has any information that could help police in this investigation is asked to send it to [email protected].
Anyone with video of the incident at the South Shore Plaza is asked to assist us and send it to [email protected]
— Braintree Police Department (@BraintreePolice) July 3, 2020
No further details have been released.
This is a developing story. Stay with Boston 25 News for the latest details as soon as they become available.
