Albert Shell Jr. is accused of opening fire at a busy Ocala, Florida, mall, killing a man and injuring a woman. (Mug shot: Marion County Sheriff’s Office)
Cops in Ocala, Florida, announced Monday that they have arrested the suspect who allegedly killed a man and injured a woman during a Christmas-season mall shooting.
Footage shows officers handcuffing Albert Shell Jr., 39, and placing him in a patrol car. Officers did not release the location of the arrest.
The Ocala Police Department, in collaboration with the United States Marshals Service (Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force), has apprehended Albert Shell Jr., the murder suspect involved in the deadly shooting at the Paddock Mall that occurred on Dec. 23, 2023. pic.twitter.com/c15dzemijI
— Ocala Police (@ocalapd) January 8, 2024
Police claim it was Shell who opened fire at the Paddock Mall on Dec. 23 at around 3:40 p.m.
Cops described getting 911 calls of an active shooter that day. They arrived to find David Nathaniel Barron, 40, dead. Investigators claim that Shell targeted him, though they did not elaborate on the motive or the events leading up to the killing.
First responders also found a woman suffering a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
The suspect got away, authorities said. Cops said they obtained an arrest warrant the next day against Shell.
The shooting sent shoppers scrambling. Jennifer Murty told local ABC affiliate WFTV she was volunteering for a domestic violence shelter and wrapping presents when she heard shots.
“I heard what sounded like gunshots,” Murty said. “I turned, and I saw the shooter with the gun in his hand.”
Blocked in by tables, she and other volunteers were unable to run away.
“We just fell to the ground,” Murty said. “We weren’t sure if they were randomly shooting people. We kept hearing the pops.”
Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano commended the efforts of law enforcement in a video statement posted to Facebook
“As we grapple with the aftermath our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” he said. “We extend our deepest sympathies to those who were affected by this terrible act of violence. … Together we will overcome this and emerge stronger as a community.”
Records show Shell has an extensive arrest history, the latest coming in July when he was accused of beating up his girlfriend in front of her 6-year-old son; Shell claimed she was cheating on him. A probable cause arrest affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime says Shell grabbed her hair and dragged her to the bathroom where he slammed her head on the tile. He also allegedly choked her.
The woman’s son told cops Shell “punched and kicked and punched mommy” and “mommy needed to say sorry to make it better.” Shell also is charged with witness intimidation because he called the victim a “snake” for cooperating with police, records show. The case is ongoing.
Shell remains at the Marion County Jail without bond for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, resisting without violence, possession of cannabis less than 20 grams, and a civil child support matter.
David Harris contributed to this report.
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