OCALA, Fla. – The suspect responsible for the shooting at the Paddock Mall in Ocala has been apprehended by the police. Albert Shell Jr., 39, was arrested with the help of law enforcement agencies and is facing charges of premeditated first-degree murder and attempted premeditated first-degree murder.
The arrest came after a news conference where Ocala Chief of Police Mike Balken reported that the department received numerous tips that led to the apprehension of Shell. The suspect was found at a home about 20 miles southwest of Ocala after law enforcement surrounded the residence and negotiated with him for about two hours before he surrendered.
The shooting, which occurred before Christmas last year, resulted in the death of 40-year-old David Nathaniel Barron and the injury of an innocent woman. Authorities believe that Barron and Shell may have had a prior work relationship, but the exact motive behind the shooting is still under investigation.
Shell has a lengthy criminal history and according to Balken, should not have been out on the streets. The police are confident that the reward for information leading to his location will be paid out. The woman who was injured in the shooting is expected to recover.
Overall, this incident was the result of a beef between the two individuals that escalated to a violent confrontation at the mall. The police emphasized that there is no reason to believe that this was anything other than a personal dispute.
In summary, the Paddock Mall shooting suspect, Albert Shell Jr., has been arrested, and he is currently facing charges for the shooting that resulted in the death of one individual and the injury of another inside the mall.