BOCA RATON, Fla. – 2 people have been arrested after fleeing the scene of a shooting at a mall, according to police. The shooting at the Boca Town Center left shoppers and employees running for cover on Wednesday.
One of those arrested is a 17-year-old from West Palm Beach who appeared in Palm Beach County’s juvenile court on Thursday. The judge ordered that the juvenile’s name not be published.
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Also arrested was 18-year-old Carlos Bernard Peavy Jr. of Riveria Beach.
When police arrived after calls of shots fired at the mall on Wednesday, they found 1 man hit in the leg. Police said he was outside of the Saks’ store entrance.
The victim told police that he and three of his friends were “walking the mall” outside of the Saks Fifth Avenue store when two men approached them and began “mean-muggin’ ” them.
He said a fight broke out between the groups and one of the suspects pulled out a gun, shooting the victim in the leg. The suspects then took money that had fallen out of the victims’ pocket and took off, according to Boca Raton police.
A Boca Raton police officer responding to the shooting saw a silver Toyota Camry speeding out of the mall. When the officer tried to stop the vehicle, the driver kept going but then crashed the car at Butts and Glades roads.
After a short foot chase, the two suspects were arrested.
Three guns were found in the car, according to police.
Hailey Sanchez was working at a store inside the mall when she said she heard a loud explosion. “It was so scary,” she said.
Sanchez said shoppers ran inside her store for cover.
Boca Raton police said the investigation is continuing. Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Scott Hanley at (561) 338-1344.