Police arrest suspect in South Carolina mall shooting that injured 14 people

Police have arrested a 22-year-old male in connection with a shooting at a busy shopping centre in South Carolina’s capital on Saturday that left 14 people injured.

Columbia Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook said 22-year-old Jewayne M. Price, who was one of three people initially detained by law enforcement as a person of interest, remains in police custody and is expected to be charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol. It is not immediately known if the suspect has a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.

Holbrook said in a news release on Saturday night that 14 people were injured ranging in ages from 15 to 73-years-old. Nine people were shot and the other five people suffered injuries while attempting to flee the mall for safety, police said.

The 73-year-old victim is the only person who continues to receive medical treatment, according to police. All the other victims have been treated and released or will be released soon, the news release said. No fatalities were reported.

Daniel Johnson said he and his family were visiting from Alabama and were eating in the food court when they first heard shots ring out and started seeing people running.

Johnson said people were screaming for their children and spouses, knocking over tables in the food court as they fled.

“Everybody was trying to get outside,” Johnson said. “When I was coming out, you could see baby strollers turned over, people’s phones and left keys. It was kind of a hectic situation.”